Phillips eager to return

Phillips: Set for Ospreys return

It's what I love doing more than anything, playing rugby, and I just can't wait to get the shirt on again.

Mike Phillips
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Ospreys scrum-half Mike Phillips is eager to return to action after the Welsh region confirmed he is in line for a long-awaited comeback against Connacht.

The British and Irish Lion has been ruled out since mid-October after suffering damage to the posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments during Ospreys' Heineken Cup triumph over Clermont Auvergne.

Phillips was sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery in the same week, but is set to return for Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium next weekend.

Transition

"Mike is now making the transition back to full training," said Ospreys physio Chris Towers.

"The hope is that he is set to be available for some game time during the Connacht fixture, with a view to gradually building on that over the following weeks."

Phillips returned from the Lions tour of South Africa in fine form before sustaining his injuries and has endured a frustrating few months on the sidelines.

However, the scrum-half is fully focused on returning to fitness to ensure his availability for the crucial final phase of the season, with Ospreys still in the running for Heineken Cup and Magners League success.

"It's been a frustrating time as it always is when you're injured," said Phillips.

"I've just been working hard with the medical team over the last few months so that I can get back onto the field for the Ospreys and I'm near the end now, we're almost at the stage when I can get out there playing again.

"It's what I love doing more than anything, playing rugby, and I just can't wait to get the shirt on again."

Progress

Phillips is impressed with the progress Ospreys have made in his absence and is determined to be back in shape for their Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown against Biarritz in April.

"The boys have done really well while I've been out," added Phillips. "They've got to the quarter-final stage of the Heineken Cup, so it's a good position to be in and a good time to be playing again.

"I've got two months to go until the Biarritz game to get right up to speed as that's a game that I really want to be involved in and I know that I'll need to be fit and in form to be considered for that one."