Gavin Henson says he will return to full training next week

The 23-year-old is recovering from surgery on a long-standing groin injury but he is hoping to be fit for Wales' international programme in November.

He said: "All my symptoms have gone so that's great news. I'm just a little sore from the cut from the operation.

"It's looking pretty good and hopefully I'll be back in the middle of October. I'll speed things along after the next few days' training sessions."

It had been feared an operation could rule the Wales and Lions centre out for up to six months, which would also have seen him miss the Six Nations.

But Henson went under the knife in Germany last Friday and returned to Wales without any complications.

He was operated on in Munich by world-renowned specialist Dr Hans Muller-Wolfhart.

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With Henson having began his rehabilitation this week, he should now figure in the Ospreys' Heineken Cup campaign at the end of October.

But the 5 November date with New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium will probably come to soon for the centre.

Ospreys regional rugby manager Derwyn Jones said: "We're delighted that Gavin's operation has been a success."

A statement said that Henson was diagnosed with damage to the pubic synthesis, a cartilaginous joint where the pubic bones meet each other.

This was being prevented from healing as a result of a hernia in the groin.

Henson has been struggling with the injury since last season, but had been playing with pain-killing and anti-inflammatory injections.

Dr Muller-Wolfhart is a leading specialist on groin problems who has treated top athletes such as Colin Jackson.