Flyers' Brandon Manning starting to make progress after surgery

Brandon Manning in a game last season, when he played in a career-high 65 games for the Flyers.ALLENTOWN — Brandon Manning is still rounding into shape after back surgery in late April, but the Flyers defenseman hopes he is 100 percent healthy when the season opens Oct. 4 in San Jose.

“It’s taken longer than I thought,” Manning said before being paired with Travis Sanheim in the Flyers’ split-squad exhibition game Wednesday against the Islanders in Allentown. “It was probably one of the toughest summers I’ve ever had. Not (only) physically, but mentally because every time I tried to get into it, something flared up and I wouldn’t feel right. From that aspect, it was really tough. I’m still…