Monday 24 July 2017 17:45, UK
Leeds Rhinos centre Jimmy Keinhorst is targeting the Challenge Cup final after recovering from a "frustrating" finger injury earlier this year.
The 27-year-old was sidelined for more than three months after he ruptured a tendon in the little finger of his left hand during a match at Warrington in April.
"I was trying to grab a shirt and it just pulled off," said Keinhorst.
"It wasn't really painful, it just didn't work, I couldn't move it.
"It was a frustrating one, for a little finger, but it was something that needed to be done. I had to have it reattached and it was a very slow process in terms of the healing.
"I had to have straps on my arms and it was a bit tedious at times. I could do some running when I got the cast off but it wasn't until 10 or 11 weeks that I could start catching a ball."
Keinhorst, who made a promising start to the season before his injury, made his comeback in the Rhinos' 10-7 Super League victory over Hull and with his side still in contention to play in two finals, he is grateful there are still important matches to be played.
"It was going well when I got the injury so it was a bit of bad timing," he said. "I thought I had become comfortable in that centre spot where I wanted to play.
"Luckily I managed to get back into the team and hopefully I can build on the two games I've had so far and put some performances in. There are some big games to look forward to."
Keinhorst is desperate to reach a second cup final after losing at Wembley in 2012, in only his fourth game for the club, and after being dropped by coach Brian McDermott in favour of Australian forward Mitch Achurch for the 2015 victory over Hull KR.
"I was disappointed to miss out because I had played in a run of games leading up to the final," he said. "I was dropped for that game and it was a bitter pill to swallow at the time.
"Obviously Macca [McDermott] had his reasons and I had to crack on."
Retaining champions Hull stand in the way of Keinhorst's ambitions at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday and the Germany international is preparing for a difficult test.
"It will be a tough task on Saturday," he said. "After last year they will know how good it is and what it takes to get there.
"From what I've seen and heard, semi-finals are really intense games and real energy battles so the start of the game will be big. It will come down to who can stay in there and keep in the game the longest."
