A succession of heart attacks haven't kept Joe Johnson off the main tour, but a broken ankle could well do.

Bradford's 1986 world champion has had to miss the first three tournaments of the 2003-04 season after suffering the injury in a fall in the summer.

And although the 51-year-old hopes to play in the qualifying for the European Open at Pontin's Holiday Centre in Prestatyn from October 31-November 5, he realises that it is very much odds against him surviving among the sport's elite come next spring.

The oldest player on the main tour by five years, he started the season in 96th place.

But he has now slipped to 107, and his chances haven't been helped by the main tour being cut from 128 players to 96 next season.

That could mean Johnson might have to finish as high as 64 in the world rankings to extend his 24-year top-flight professional career.

"I hope to play in the next qualifiers, but I have been off the table for three months, which is the longest break of my career," said Johnson, who was still using one crutch to help him walk this week.

"If I did drop down I don't know whether I would want to play on the secondary

tour, because there are so many good players down there." But he added optimistically: "I saved myself last season by winning four matches in the World Championship and I seem to have been hanging on by the skin of my teeth for the last six or seven years."

Johnson added: "After me the next oldest main tour player is Steve Davis at 46, then come Tony Jones and Alain Robidoux at 43 and Jimmy White at 41."