Laura Robson is back in full training but could delay her comeback until after January's Australian Open.

That would mean her being out of the game for more than a year, as she has not played competitively since Melbourne due a wrist tendon problem that was eventually to require surgery.

Robson, who spent the whole summer in a cast, has been quietly practising in Florida for more than a month now, and there appear to be three options for her at the start of next year, depending on how quickly she progresses.

Laura Robson has returned to full training but could delay her comeback until after the Australian Open

She may go to Australia and play warm-up tournaments and the Open, using the protected ranking that is given to all players when they have been out injured for a long period.

An alternative schedule is to ease her way back in at smaller 'Challenger' level events in the United States that take place during Melbourne. A third option is to wait until next season's first Grand Slam is out of the way, and be sure that recovery is complete.

'She is making really good progress but a lot will depend on how her wrist is feeling and her level of play in practice,' said her manager Max Eisenbud. 'We are committed to take our time and will not rush back, we might even delay her return.

'I learned a lot of lessons with Maria Sharapova's shoulder injury and we will not rush Laura.'

Robson, pictured at the pre-Wimbledon party in London, wears her cast on her left wrist at the bash

Eisenbud has guided the career of the 27 year-old Russian, who has had two lengthy injury breaks in 2008 and 2012, which lasted for nine months and six months respectively. She has gone on to win Grand Slams again, although wrist injuries are probably even more infernal for a tennis player to deal with than those affecting the shoulder, as Juan Martin Del Potro would attest.

Robson, who will be 21 in January, will find the landscape has changed when she finally returns – happily it now seems a case of when rather than if - with an assortment of exciting young female players starting to emerge.

On the domestic front she will also find out that plenty has been going on at the Lawn Tennis Association, which is to change the way it funds talented young British players.

As part of what looks an increasingly radical shake-up under current Chief Executive Michael Downey, in which performance spending is reduced overall, the 'Matrix' system of funding for prospects that was introduced seven years ago is to be scrapped in its present form.

Robson may go to Australia to play warm-up tournaments and the Open, though that is just some options

Alternatives include easing her way back in at smaller 'Challenger' level events or to wait until next year

An internal LTA document, seen by Sportsmail, explains why the scheme is being brought to an end.

'Apart from some notable highlights, the results in Grand Slam junior events and at the highest international level have been disappointing,' it reads. 'This has been a factor in the decision to change the strategy and end matrix funding in its current form. In the future, junior player funding will be focussed specifically on the players showing the highest playing potential.

'The current Matrix Funding structure has also placed too much emphasis on the results of younger players at a time when we recognise that game development should be the priority.'

Although there have been individual signs of encouragement it is hard to argue with the logic, as Britain will end the year with only two men and two women inside the world's top 150.