It’s been more than a year since Daniel Nielson ruptured his ACL in a pre-season tackling drill but for the young defender, it has felt like a lifetime.

His rehabilitation has been long, arduous and no doubt, frustrating.

The good news though; he’s not far away from a return. In fact he could be playing again before the end of April.

“I’ve missed it … it’s good to be back out there and get back into the game and the swing of it all,” Nielson told NMFC.com.au.

“I’m back into full training. I’m doing game-sense, not playing any games as yet because I just need a bit more continuity, just session after session.

North’s crop of 2014 draftees had its share of bad luck, but it seems things are finally beginning to turn.

Sam Durdin played a fortnight ago in a VFL practice match after shoulder reconstruction, and Ed Vickers-Willis who has had two shoulder surgeries, is also eyeing a return within a month.

“I’ve been doing a lot of contact work with the physios, so now really starting to get into the competitive work back out with the boys, which is really positive,” Vickers-Willis said.

The 20-year-old desperate to get back on the park.

“Ultimately we are footballers and we spend a lot of time in rehab so just looking forward to getting back to that sense of normality again and playing footy again, because that’s what I love to do.”

For more injury news, visit the Anytime Fitness Health Hub