SAN DIEGORyan Howard is headed back to the doctor. But dont worry. This could turn out to be a good thing for the Phillies slugger.Howard will have the wound on the back of his left ankle examined by a specialist in Philadelphia on Friday. It will be his second visit to the specialist in a week and a good checkup will put him a step closer to getting back on the field.We hope to get good news, said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who would not disclose the specialists name. Hopefully it has healed to the point where he is cleared to increase baseball activities. If he is, we can be aggressive with him because his Achilles has healed.Howard had surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon in October. In February, he developed an infection after a surgical suture did not dissolve. He had a procedure to clean out the infection on February 27 and was treated with antibiotics for a month. The procedure to clean out the infection left a deep wound in Howards ankle that continues to heal.Howard has been taking ground balls, but he has not been running or swinging a bat. He could be soon if all goes well Friday.E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.