Dan Sheehan optimistic of injury return early in 2025

Dan Sheehan is in line to return from his knee injury early in the new year, with the Ireland and Leinster hooker making good progress on his cruciate ligament recovery.

The 26-year-old suffered a torn ACL during Ireland's first Test defeat to South Africa in Pretoria in early July, but is hopeful of making his comeback for the province early in the Six Nations window.

"Hopefully into the new year. It might take a month or two, but that's what I'm sort of aiming at," Sheehan said.

"I'd love to get a good chunk of the season, see how we go. I've been conscious not to put a timeframe on it, because then it would be tempting to rush back, and it's very much a week-to-week thing.

"Just for the mind, I don't want to put an exact date on it because then I'd be rushing.

"In terms of the knee, it's coming along very nicely. Emma Galvin, my physio, has worked her ass off to get me to a good spot. I haven't had one setback yet, so hopefully in the new year I can get kicking.

"I don't want to rush it at the same time, it's quite tempting, especially after the last month watching the lads out there playing big games. You're like 'I really want to get back,' but I'll make sure I'm 100% right, and that's when I'll go back."

It was a first major injury for the front row forward, who has been almost ever-present in the Ireland team since making his debut in late 2021.

Sheehan's rise to being one of the elite hooker in the game happened in a flash in 2021.

He had started just five times for the province when he was drafted into the Irish squad in November 2021, and within six months he had established himself as first choice for both province and country, before being nominated for World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in 2022.

"I was able