KERRY FORWARD PAUL Geaney is confident of returning to action before the end of the Allianz League campaign having been sidelined through injury for the last six months.
The 25-year-old underwent two operations, on his back and shoulder, since last September’s All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin and is now in the final stages of rehab.
Although he hasn’t earmarked a particular return date, Geaney admits he’s targeting a comeback before the end of April.
“My back is perfect, feels perfect and the shoulder is coming along very well now so I’m only a couple of weeks out,” he said in Dublin yesterday.
“I’m not back in team training yet but I’m rehabbing myself and not too far off it now, hopefully the next month.
“I’d hope to play some part in the league but that depends on whether there is any setback in the meantime and how my form is and how quickly my sharpness comes back.”
Geaney has been training alongside Peter Crowley over the last few weeks as the pair work their way back to fitness. Crowley is set to return from his shoulder layoff in Sunday’s game against Down.
The Dingle attacker isn’t at that stage yet but he believes he’ll return fitter and stronger.
“I only started the full rehab programme after the holiday in January so I suppose I had a good rest and a good bit of time off over the winter so it’s being going very well.
“I’m very happy with the progress at the moment and the medical team are very happy with the progress and if it continues in that curve now it won’t be too long more.
“I’ll be strong, if not stronger than I was before because of the work I’ve done so I’m happy enough.”
Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s charges have been slow out of the blocks in 2016 and have endured a difficult start to the campaign.
Defeats to Dublin and Roscommon in the opening two outings left much to be desired but Geaney insists you can’t read too much into the performances.
“The pitches have been disastrous at home and the lads have been thrown around from pitch to pitch and it can’t help like. It’s not really an excuse but it can’t help either.
“I think the next five games will tell the most out of anything, they’re the real teller and getting points on the board and trying to qualify for the semi-final of the league rather than be battling from staying up from relegation.
“The two week break will have done them great and they will have done a lot of work in those two weeks and hopefully they’ll put two points on the board this weekend.”
After six months out of the game, Geaney is chomping at the bit to get back involved and help his team click into gear before the serious business begins in May.
“I can’t wait to get back now, very hungry to get back playing. I’ve been out six months at this stage and I wouldn’t be someone who would take a break.
“It’s the longest I’ve ever been out. I had a back operation in 2013 and that was only 12 weeks so this is nearly double that which is a very very long time so I can’t wait to get back now.”
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