Bristol Bears' superstar centre Semi Radradra is set for a return before the end of the month Pat Lam has revealed.
The Fijian international captain was sidelined for eight to 10 weeks with a knee injury which was picked up in a detailed medical with the club following complaints of a niggling pain he was suffering from.
The medical discovered the explosive 28-year-old had a minor tear in his tendon which required rest in a brace to ensure a more serious injury didn't happen further down the line.
It was a precautionary move and an understandable one considering the marquee player's importance to Bristol's lofty ambitions.
Radradra's last appearance was in the stunning 48-3 victory over Bath on January 29 when he made an incredible 162m with the ball in hand as the focal point of the Bears’ attack. Remarkably in his absence Bristol have won four, draw one and lost just once to stay top of the Gallagher Premiership.
But Lam is only too aware of the impact Radradra has to his side's attack. He said: "It is exciting.
"Semi is not too far away.
"What is pleasing is in my office I have got a list of return dates for all these guys and there are a lot coming back over the next few weeks which is great for the competition in the squad."
Bristol play Northampton Saints away next weekend on Sunday, March 21, before playing Harlequins on March 27 when the Bears' quartet of Six Nations players: Wales fly-half Callum Sheedy, and England trio Max Malins, Ben Earl and Kyle Sinckler will all be back for club duty.
The following weekend Bristol travel to France to take on Bordeaux-Begles in the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup, having beaten the Top 14 outfit in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup last season on their way to lifting the trophy.
Radradra looks set to be fit to face his former club Bordeaux, Lam confirmed, with the quarter-final the following weekend back at Ashton Gate should Bristol prevail across The Channel.
Discussing the timeline on Radradra's return, Lam said: "He should be ready for Europe, if not earlier. We will just see how it goes.
"I don’t want to rush him. He is desperate to go. If I said go he would go immediately but I want to make sure when he comes back it is final because he can have a great end to the season."
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