By the time Sunday’s practice match against Gold Coast rolls around, it will have been 311 long days since Alan Toovey last kicked a football in anger.

Still, his return has been far quicker than that of fellow knee victims Luke Ball and Lachlan Keeffe who had to wait more than 12 months to step back onto the ground.

Fortunately for Toovey, who quietly underwent a shoulder reconstruction during his recovery from his knee surgery, a lack of setbacks has seen him receive the green light to make his return ahead of this year’s home and away season.

“A lot of people have asked me if I’ve been nervous about my knee or anything like that but because I’ve taken so long with it and done all the steps and completed every little test that I’ve needed to do to play, I’m pretty confident,” Toovey told CollingwoodTV.

Watch Alan Toovey’s full interview with CollingwoodTV in the video above.

“Out on the track (at) training it doesn’t worry me so I’m just actually looking forward to playing against some opposition and testing it out.”

There had been some discussion that Toovey would return against Richmond in Wangaratta last Saturday, but the club’s medical staff decided to hold back the Darren Millane Perpetual Memorial Trophy winner for one more week.

“I was hoping to play last week but didn’t quite get there so I’m all set to play on Sunday.

“I haven’t had any real setbacks and hopefully get out and have a good hitout on Sunday and put my hand up for round one.”

Watch Alan Toovey’s full interview with CollingwoodTV in the video above.