Scottish Powerlifter Micky Yule is not expecting a partisan atmosphere from the crowd at Birmingham 2022 - as he returns to a city that carries huge personal significance.

In July 2010, Yule, now 43, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving as a Royal Engineer search advisor in Afghanistan, which caused him to lose both legs and endure a shattered pelvis and fractured arm.

He has undergone over 40 operations since losing his legs and is grateful for the staff at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital who helped save his life.

He said: “It’s a strange feeling. I flew in here in a coma from Afghanistan and then spent eight weeks getting patched up and surgeries, sometimes being quite close to everything going wrong.

“But I’m back here. The people at Queen Elizabeth Hospital saved my life.

“It’s not all bad, it’s mixed feelings, but to be back here on a real positive note to try and win a medal for your country and be the flagbearer, I think it comes full circle to where things started 10 years ago.”

The Edinburgh-born athlete had competed in powerlifting before his injury and, supported by Help for Heroes, resumed his training to earn a place in the Scotland team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Yule arrives in Birmingham hopeful of medal success on the back of a bronze at the 2020 Toyko Olympics with a best of 182kg.

He was named flagbearer for Team Scotland alongside Badminton star Kirsty Gilmour and is eager to get out and compete in front of the Birmingham crowd when the action gets under way at the NEC on Thursday.

"It’s a surreal moment, not even something I have ever dreamed about because I have seen some of Scotland’s best ever athletes do that (be flagbearer). It’s a massive honour and responsibility," Yule said.

"I think it (the reception) will be alright. We had a fantastic reception in Glasgow where we had 60,000 Scots cheering on England. I am sure we will get the same, because everyone wants everyone to do well. It’s a friendly Games!

I’m in the best place I’ve ever been. I’ll be looking to medal and it’ll be the only thing that’s on my mind
Micky Yule

"It’s the first time I’ve turned up at a Commonwealth Games not injured.

"I had a torn pec and a broken leg, not even little injuries that you can get past on the day. Touch wood I’m ready to go now.

“I’m in the best place I’ve ever been. We’ll take the day as it comes but I’ll be looking to medal and it’ll be the only thing that’s on my mind."