Leinster and Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan is targeting a comeback in the New Year and admits sitting on the sidelines is becoming very frustrating.
Keenan, who played every minute of the three British and Irish Lions Tests, scored the series-clinching try in the second match against Australia.
Midway through that tour, the 29-year-old and the medical staff decided that he would go under the knife to deal with a hip injury, with Leinster initially giving December as a potential return date.
With the province suffering three defeats from four URC games, and the Ireland squad jetting off to the USA to start their autumn series with a clash against New Zealand, the Dubliner is beginning to get cabin fever.
"It's all going well, according to plan. It’s hard to tell just over two months post-op," he told RTÉ Sport.
"The first month was frustrating. I was on crutches but felt I shouldn’t have been but that was the advice of the surgeon.
"It was to promote as much healing and rest and recovery.
"The last couple of weeks I’ve been kicking on with my rehab, a lot of gym work, swimming, bike work.
"It’s weeks like this that’s it’s tougher, a bit frustrating.
"You wish you were out playing for Leinster against Munster in Croke Park and helping the team.
"Seeing the lads go off to Chicago was tough as well, you’d love to be on that plane.
"The frustrations are getting to me but I just have to control what I can. I’m still targeting a return around New Year but a game isn’t pencilled in.
"It’s about meeting certain markers to progress into running and field work. It wasn’t like I got an injury in the last Lions Test, I had [surgery] pencilled in.
"Midway through the tour we all decided it was the best thing for me.
"It was an injury, I had an event, it was getting worse and I was trying to manage it at the end of the season.
"Getting through with Ireland in the Six Nations, Leinster in the league and Champions Cup, and then the Lions tours.
"It’s my first long-term injury, I’m 29 now so I have to have some perspective. It can’t be all doom and gloom."
While the lay-off can’t be helped, Keenan, will have been able to reflect on a summer that will live long in the memory.
He missed part of the tour with a stomach bug, losing six kilograms during his illness.
However, he recovered in time to take his place in the starting team and was at the end of a move that won the series, scoring a brilliant try that will go down in Lions folklore.
"It was a great experience, the tour was class, there were highs and lows, being sick and not knowing what was wrong with me," said Keenan, who has 46 Ireland caps.
"From getting a bit of a break to being in the Test side, scoring that try was a really cool moment, the whole tour was memorable but then you are brought down to earth quickly when you go under the knife nine days after the last Test.
"Special memories, Australia is a great place to do it."
Speaking as a Optimum Nutrition ambassador, Keenan revealed that he has been in touch with the Ireland coaching staff and is likely to consult with the squad during the international window as players like Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O’Brien, Ciarán Frawley and Jacob Stockdale audition for the 15 shirt.
He said: "I’ve been chatting to Goodie [Andrew Goodman, backs coach] and Johnny [Sexton, assistant coach] over the last week, they’ve been linking in with me and picking my brains with one or two bits.
"There’s a chance I’ll come in at some stage over the autumn. They are good like that. Dan [Sheehan] and Craig [Casey] came in when they were injured.
"You can’t just sit on the sidelines and then play catch-up when you come back.
"You are expected to make all the learn-ons and adapt to the changing systems."
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Keenan took the path less travelled when he switched back from 15s to represent Ireland the Olympics in Sevens.
With the mooted R360 struggling to gain much traction, Keenan revealed the proposed breakaway league, which would rule him out of Ireland contention, isn't on his radar.
"Everyone is in different positions. I’m sure some lads are entertaining it," he said.
"I’m privileged to be playing for Leinster and Ireland, two teams that I dreamed of playing for.
"I’ve dismissed it straight away. I couldn’t give up either of those. It was never a question for me.
"Each to their own but I’m happy competition for positions and playing for two of the best teams in the world so I don’t think anything will sway me from that."
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