Gloucester full-back Olly Morgan remains on course for a comeback in the new season after seeing a consultant in the United States.
Morgan has endured a long road to recovery following a serious knee ligament injury playing for Gloucester against Worcester in January 2012, although the England cap remains optimistic about making a return next season.
"I came back from the United States a week ago after working with Bill Knowles who is a knee rehab specialist, having got a lot of good work done with him," said Morgan.
"I'm hopeful that I will slog it out in pre-season and be back fit for the new season, but there is no timeframe. I'm now doing a lot of multi-directional running and working through the checklist with the physios. I'm very happy with how things have gone, but I'm not quite there yet."
Morgan is yet to run out for Gloucester in the Nigel Davies era, but has praised the former Scarlets director of rugby for his attitude towards keeping Morgan integrated despite being on the sidelines.
"Nigel is a very good man manager," added Morgan.
"He plans sessions very well and works well with Mike Tindall as a player-coach. Having Mike act as a buffer between the players and management is a real positive. Nigel though has been great, especially with my injury. He's been very good at keeping me involved."
Davies arrival has resulted in an upturn in fortunes for Gloucester, who currently sit 5th in the Aviva Premiership and are targeting a spot in the end of season playoffs.
"The season has been going really well. The club generally just feels better, it's a great club to be around," stated Morgan.
"Positivity has been a main theme - if we haven't had a great performance we've been trying to take the positives from it.
"We're much more relaxed and you can see that on the pitch. We do play some attractive rugby but we always struggled with winning the arm-wrestle games, whereas this season in those we seem to be coming out on top."
Morgan watched on as England were ruthlessly taken apart by Wales in the Six Nations decider last weekend, with Gloucester team-mates Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees both involved off the bench.
"It was a surprising result - with the pressure that was put on the game you were never sure who was going to pull away," said Morgan.
"I certainly didn't predict that scoreline, but as many people mentioned in the press the Wales back-row was phenomenal, and along with Alex Cuthbert's finishing that was what won the game.
"Everyone obviously focuses on the last game, but before that England had been very successful winning those previous four games and beating New Zealand. There's lots of opportunities for the players to make amends and move forward."
On the subject of opportunities, Gloucester will be eager to make amends at the beginning of the next season in the J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s after losing out in the final to London Irish last year. Now set for its fourth year, Morgan believes it offers a great chance to the club's younger players to show what they can do.
"It's been a great success," stated Morgan.
"It hands an opportunity to the younger players to play on television in front of thousands of people and show what they can do. We want to keep our record going have reached the final last year and if we can go one better, then that would be great."
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
The J.P Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s kicks off on 1st August at Gloucester with rounds at Franklin Gardens and Allianz Park and the Final at The Recreation Ground. For tickets and more information visit: wwwjpmorgan7s.com or follow @jpmorganrugby7s
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