North End midfielder Alan Browne is well on his way to recovery after a hernia operation last week.
The 20-year-old will be working hard over the summer to make sure he is fully fit for the players' return in July.
Speaking of his operation, Republic of Ireland U21 international was glad to get it out of the way early to give him plenty of time to recover.
"I'm feeling a bit stiff, at first it was a bit sore and it restricted my movement a bit but I'm glad to get it out of the way and I'm looking forward to my recovery now.
"I only found out about it a week or two before the end of the season, I didn't really have much trouble with it I just went to the doctor and he assessed it and located the problem. It was good to get it sorted as soon as possible.
Browne wasn't the only North End player under the knife last Wednesday, fellow midfielder Paul Gallagher was also in for his hernia operation at the same time.
"In the recovery room i was next door to Gally [Paul Gallagher], we didn't really see each other until afterwards but they both went well and hopefully we will both get back fit as soon as possible.
"My problem was slightly different, Gally's was a sports one whereas mine was a 'proper' one so they said! He obviously felt it more than me so it might take him a little longer than me but we will both be working hard to be fully fit for pre-season."
Gallagher had been carrying his injury for a number of months, and Browne admitted seeing a fully fit Paul Gallagher next season is an exciting prospect.
"I'm sure his will have been a little more aggravated than mine with the number of games he played, but he's a strong lad so he'll be back soon.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays next season! Hopefully he will be carrying another injury because he has been fantastic all year and I don't think anyone would have spotted his injury if it hadn't been in the press. He's been unbelievable and with him back fully fit next year, anything is possible.
Speaking of his plans for the summer, Browne continued: "I didn't want to wait a few weeks and have some time off before doing it, I wanted to get it out of the way and make sure I was fully fit for pre-season. If I had waited a few weeks it would have been difficult to get back for then, I will do the work I've been given from the physio and be back fit in the summer.
"I am in for the odd day in June, but even when I'm back home I've got a programme to stick to, and I will be assessed when I come back in and I'm sure if I follow the plan everything will be fine ahead of pre-season training.
On his breaks from his off season training schedule, Browne will be making time to cheer on the Republic of Ireland as they take to the stage at the 2016 European Championships.
"It's a big summer for Ireland, it's a great opportunity for them, there's some decent players, it's a decent squad and they've caused a few upsets in the lead up to it so I don't see why they can't do that in the tournament.
"I probably won't make it over to the games, I will be focusing on my recovery, but I will definitely be keeping a close eye on how they are getting on in the Euros."
Once the Euros are over, the focus will return to the 2016/17 season, and it's one that the Cork-born midfielder is looking forward to.
"It's been a fantastic season, I think we could have even pushed a bit more and had a go at the Play-Offs but overall it was successful. We had a slight dip towards the end of the season but I think overall with our performances and results no-one can complain.
"Hopefully the gaffer will bring in one or two players in the summer and we can kick on again next season.
"The gaffer will have done his homework, I'm sure he will bring in a few, and we've got some players coming back from injuries too which will be like new signings for us and add to the strength and depth to the team to help us maybe go one better next year.
"We have some great assets coming back into contention, we've seen what Becks was like at the end of the season, he's shown what he can do and he was only just back from injury. I'm sure with him back fully fit next season he will be looking to kick on.
"We haven't seen much of Liam Grimshaw yet so he will be looking to make an impression, we all know what Chrissy [Chris Humphrey] can do, he will be ready to go and give us a bit more pace in the team.
"So it will be great to have these players back fit and competing for places in the team."
Speaking of his operation, Republic of Ireland U21 international was glad to get it out of the way early to give him plenty of time to recover.
"I'm feeling a bit stiff, at first it was a bit sore and it restricted my movement a bit but I'm glad to get it out of the way and I'm looking forward to my recovery now.
"I only found out about it a week or two before the end of the season, I didn't really have much trouble with it I just went to the doctor and he assessed it and located the problem. It was good to get it sorted as soon as possible.
Browne wasn't the only North End player under the knife last Wednesday, fellow midfielder Paul Gallagher was also in for his hernia operation at the same time.
"In the recovery room i was next door to Gally [Paul Gallagher], we didn't really see each other until afterwards but they both went well and hopefully we will both get back fit as soon as possible.
"My problem was slightly different, Gally's was a sports one whereas mine was a 'proper' one so they said! He obviously felt it more than me so it might take him a little longer than me but we will both be working hard to be fully fit for pre-season."
Gallagher had been carrying his injury for a number of months, and Browne admitted seeing a fully fit Paul Gallagher next season is an exciting prospect.
"I'm sure his will have been a little more aggravated than mine with the number of games he played, but he's a strong lad so he'll be back soon.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays next season! Hopefully he will be carrying another injury because he has been fantastic all year and I don't think anyone would have spotted his injury if it hadn't been in the press. He's been unbelievable and with him back fully fit next year, anything is possible.
Speaking of his plans for the summer, Browne continued: "I didn't want to wait a few weeks and have some time off before doing it, I wanted to get it out of the way and make sure I was fully fit for pre-season. If I had waited a few weeks it would have been difficult to get back for then, I will do the work I've been given from the physio and be back fit in the summer.
"I am in for the odd day in June, but even when I'm back home I've got a programme to stick to, and I will be assessed when I come back in and I'm sure if I follow the plan everything will be fine ahead of pre-season training.
On his breaks from his off season training schedule, Browne will be making time to cheer on the Republic of Ireland as they take to the stage at the 2016 European Championships.
"It's a big summer for Ireland, it's a great opportunity for them, there's some decent players, it's a decent squad and they've caused a few upsets in the lead up to it so I don't see why they can't do that in the tournament.
"I probably won't make it over to the games, I will be focusing on my recovery, but I will definitely be keeping a close eye on how they are getting on in the Euros."
Once the Euros are over, the focus will return to the 2016/17 season, and it's one that the Cork-born midfielder is looking forward to.
"It's been a fantastic season, I think we could have even pushed a bit more and had a go at the Play-Offs but overall it was successful. We had a slight dip towards the end of the season but I think overall with our performances and results no-one can complain.
"Hopefully the gaffer will bring in one or two players in the summer and we can kick on again next season.
"The gaffer will have done his homework, I'm sure he will bring in a few, and we've got some players coming back from injuries too which will be like new signings for us and add to the strength and depth to the team to help us maybe go one better next year.
"We have some great assets coming back into contention, we've seen what Becks was like at the end of the season, he's shown what he can do and he was only just back from injury. I'm sure with him back fully fit next season he will be looking to kick on.
"We haven't seen much of Liam Grimshaw yet so he will be looking to make an impression, we all know what Chrissy [Chris Humphrey] can do, he will be ready to go and give us a bit more pace in the team.
"So it will be great to have these players back fit and competing for places in the team."