By Cian O'Connell

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David O'Callaghan is targeting a return to hurling action in February or March. Six weeks ago O'Callaghan underwent a back operation following an injury hit summer.

"I suppose it happened during the summer here (Croke Park), the lower back just spasmed up against Wexford," O'Callaghan reveals. 

"I managed to get through the Kilkenny game and then a day or two later I was in Santry sports clinic not comfortable even sitting or walking around. 

"Obviously the nerve had been highly compressed by a disc, so Michael Kelleher in Santry sports clinic done the microdiscectomy. The disc had prolapsed out, so you are just taking the disc that's compressing the nerve off that. 

"Actually the amount of people I've spoken to since who have had it done or know someone who has had it done so it’s obviously quite a common thing and I wouldn't have been that aware of it beforehand.

"It's quite uncomfortable and I got the op then six weeks ago and was back in with the surgeon last week, it's gone well but there's still symptoms because there was a high level of compression, so you are waiting to see then how that plays out."

O'Callaghan had expected 2016 to be his last year in the sky blue jersey. "Being honest with you I had kind of built up last year to be my last year playing and I had put in a big effort," O'Callaghan reflects.

"I suppose the fact that I haven't got to play any hurling for the last six months; you can't help the appetite building again. Even looking at Cuala last week as well, it was very refreshing looking at that.

"Ultimately I'll see how this progresses over the next couple of weeks, work away with Eamon (Dublin physio Eamon O'Reilly) and see if I can get into a position to give it a crack.

"I suppose you’d be targeting kind of mid-February/March. That’s my target now as well, I have to go back in and meet Mr. Kelleher the surgeon on the February 1 as well."

Dublin will start the Walsh Cup and Allianz Hurling League with a particularly young panel. "Obviously look, there’s been big changes to the panel so I suppose you are going to see a lot of younger guys coming in and getting opportunities in the Walsh Cup and the League as well," O'Callaghan acknowledges.

"I think a lot of the guys really stood up last year. You are looking at the likes of Eoghan O’Donnell, the Shane Barretts. I know Cian O’Callaghan will be with Cuala, but there’s a lot of lads kind of coming to the fore and becoming real leaders of the team as well, so you have them there and hopefully a couple of older guys along with them to bring the younger guys through."

How some of the newcomers coped under Ger Cunningham encourages O'Callaghan. "Yeah, I suppose Ger threw them in and kind of gave them the opportunity to go and stake a claim as well.

"A lot of the lads really stood up and took it, and a lot of the younger guys are becoming real leader sin the group and I’m sure they are going to be the guys driving the team forward as well going into the future.

"Then you'll have Rushey there alongside them as well, and a couple of the other older guys as well. So look, it is going to be a challenge, there's no doubt. There's a lot of younger guys there and they'll be getting throw in as well. But it's there for lads to stake a claim, and please God you'd like to see Cuala going on and maybe pulling off an All-Ireland victory – and coming back into the fold they'd be a huge lift at that stage."

Is it awkward with so many old colleagues no longer involved. "It is a little, to be honest," O'Callaghan remarks. "I've had some of the best days of my lives with those lads. But, I mean, ultimately, if you're selected on the squad you have to basically give yourself to the squad 100pc and you have to commit to the lads that are there.

"If I'm going to be there in 2017 – and hopefully I can get back - I'll be giving my best to the group that's there."