ANDY SMITH is hoping to be back in action at the Bodog.com World Grand Prix next month following his leg operation.
The world number 28 initially injured his leg ahead of July's StanJames.com World Matchplay, and competed in Blackpool and later at the PartyPoker.net European Championship despite his injury.
However, having had minor surgery to remove a blood clot from his leg, the wound later became infected and led to Smith needing an operation in August.
He will require a skin graft on the leg, and as well as missing this weekend's Players Championships in Crawley is unlikely to be fit to compete in Nuland later in September.
Smith, though, is targeting October's Bodog.com World Grand Prix for his comeback event as he continues his recovery at home.
"My main focus at the moment is getting my leg sorted and the skin graft is the next step in that," said Smith.
"At the back of my mind is the World Grand Prix and I'm lucky that my qualifying place for that is pretty secure already. Hopefully I'll be back on my feet and playing by the end of September so I'm ready for Dublin.
"It's been hard being at home while everyone else is playing in tournaments around the world but the support I've had from everyone has been fantastic.
"I really appreciate all the messages I've had from other players and people within the game."
Another PDPA member who was admitted to hospital during August, Darren Mawer, is now recovering in hospital close to his Grimsby home.
Mawer suffered a brain haemorrhage during a flight to Turkey and had spent time in intensive care in Turkey until he was well enough to return to the UK.