Robinson picked up the ankle injury on the Lions tour

The Sale captain was expected to miss the opening games of the new season but is now walking without crutches and undergoing daily physiotherapy.

"The operations went well and the corrective surgery that was necessary was completed quickly," Robinson said.

"I am looking forward to getting back to training. If all goes well I may be available a lot sooner than expected."

Sharks director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre had questioned if Robinson should even have gone on the Lions tour.

"Jason has needed a 'clean-out' of his knee for a while and should, perhaps, not have travelled to New Zealand," Saint Andre said. "For him to return with a damaged ankle as well is very unfortunate."

Saint Andre originally anticipated Robinson would miss "only a few games" at the start of the new season.

Sheridan on track after fracture

But new signing Epi Taione will miss the first month of the new campaign.

The Tongan international, who can play centre, wing or flanker, broke his arm playing for Newcastle last season and requires a further bone graft.

Saint Andre insists the rest of the Sharks' Lions contingent - Mark Cueto, Charlie Hodgson, Andrew Sheridan, Andy Titterrell and replacement Jason White - will all be available for their Premiership opener against Newcastle on 2 September.

That would mean only an eight-week break after the end of the tour, when the agreement with the Rugby Football Union states a minumum of 10 weeks after international commitments.

We have to give them full rest and recovery Wasps boss Ian McGeechan

"I fully expect other Premiership sides to follow our lead," Saint Andre added.

The Frenchman's stance contrasts, though, with that of Lions assistant coach Ian McGeechan, who has taken up his new post as Wasps' director of rugby.

McGeechan insists Josh Lewsey, Simon Shaw and Matt Dawson will not play until mid-September, while Lawrence Dallaglio is targeting an October return to action after ankle surgery.

"I've said to the players that they should be looking at four weeks' complete rest," he said.

"That will be followed by four to six weeks of full-on training so we'll be targeting mid-September before they play again.

"We have to give them full rest and recovery - that's one of the things Wasps are pretty good at, looking after the players."