Horgan aims for Leinster return from knee injury in the new year

The new year can hardly some quickly enough for Shane Horgan who says he is hopeful he will be fully recovered from a career-threatening injury by then. Horgan is due in Sweden this week to have further surgery on a troublesome and long-lasting knee injury that left a question mark over his future in professional rugby. However, after seeing the Swedish specialist last week he is optimistic that he will be back in contention for a starting place on Joe Schmidt's Leinster team in January or February. He damaged the patella tendon in his knee during in the Magners League cup final against Munster last May. A week earlier he had played a significant role in helping Leinster engineer a remarkable comeback to defeat Northampton in the Heineken Cup final. After the Munster game the 33-year-old Bellewstown man had surgery on the knee, but when the injury failed to clear up he started to get concerned and sought assistance. "I had surgery the next week, after the Munster game, so I have been out with it for six months pretty much and it just wasn't responding the way you would have wanted," Horgan told the Meath Chronicle. "I attended another tendon specialist, a Swedish guy and he recommended more surgery on it. "The real issue was the last game of the season against Munster. That's where I really damaged it and after that I got the surgery, but now it needs more. "I'm very optimistic now (after the diagnosis) and after the rehabilitation I hope I'll be back in the new year. "I'd certainly be looking to play after Christmas. You know the way surgeons are, they are always hopeful," added Horgan. With over 60 caps for Ireland and over 200 appearance for Leinster, Horgan has enjoyed a long and fruitful career - and he's optimistic now that there's still more triumphs to be achieved before he hangs up the boots. At least at this stage it looks like he won't forced hang up his boots because of an injury. One of the highlights of Horgan's career to-date was the try he scored against England in Twickenham in 2006. It proved to be a crucial score in helping Ireland win the Triple Crown. The following year he also grabbed a memorable touchdown for his country in the historic Six Nations game against England at Croke Park that helped Ireland to a memorable victory. The former Boyne player says that a long-term injury at this stage of his career has helped him appreciate his life as a professional player even more. He had a protracted quad injury in 2004, but recovering from this latest knock has proven to be a long and difficult journey. It could have left him in some despair along the way however, he was determined not to lose hope. "As you grow older you start to really appreciate the position you are in, you get to play top class rugby," he said. "That's something I've really appreciated, especially in the last few years and I am always really hungry to play every game, I suppose, that's amplified further with your injuries. "It makes you very focused on trying to get back. You won't leave any stone unturned to try and get back as quickly as possible. "Luckily there's a great staff at Leinster to help me do that as quickly as possible." Horgan's contract with the IRFU runs until the end of this season and he's hoping that he will be in a position to negotiate another one. First he must prove his fitness and that's what he'll be concentrating solely on in the coming two or three months. Getting back on the pitch is his main goal for now rather than looking beyond that to when his days in professional rugby will be over. "What I have to do is just look at the short term and get back on the pitch, get back enjoying rugby and then see how things slot into place after that," he said. "I don't think of that (retiring) because you don't want to be coasting into that place before you finish. When the time is right, you'll know the time is right. "As long as I'm enjoying it, as long as I'm contributing to Leinster I'll be happy to play." He points to players who have enjoyed protracted careers overcoming injuries along the way such as New Zealand's Reuben Thorn who at 37 played in the recent World Cup final. If the desire is there and the body is willing, he adds, there's no reason why a player can't keep going, helped along with the powers of modern medicine. The hopeful news he received from his Swedish surgeon has renewed his focus and enthusiasm for the game. Now he just wants to get back out on the pitch and play in the blue of Leinster.