Stuart Hogg hoping for all clear to start playing

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg faces crucial medical tests tomorrow in his bid to play in Glasgow's opening European Champions Cup fixtures.

Stuart Hogg is hoping to get the all clear to resume playing. Picture: Bill Murray SNS/SRU

The British and Irish Lion has been out of action since the summer, when he had surgery to cure a shoulder problem that had been bothering him throughout last season.

He is, however, hopeful of being cleared for a return to action ahead of the Warriors’ first Champions Cup clash with English champions Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday 14 October. Glasgow play Leinster at home the following week.

Hogg said: “Everything depends on the [test] results.

“It is a big day. Hopefully that will give me a definitive answer on when I’ll be back playing. Hopefully, it’s not too far. It’s just a matter of wait and see.

“I am feeling good. I had a strength test a couple of weeks ago and it gave me an area to work on, so I have been working hard in the gym and I feel alright.

“I’m being careful on the basis that I have never had a long-term injury before. Hopefully it is the last one. I am always sceptical about saying how it will work – I don’t know how these injuries work.”

Hogg has already had a lesson in the problems he can cause himself when he got a bit over-ambitious last month and tried to join in with a full club training session wearing top meant to show he was not to take any contact. That was all well and good; curbing his own enthusiasm proved to be a tougher challenge, though.

“The physios hate the fact I’m injured because I try all these different things I [to get fit],” he admitted. “I shoved a pink bib on to go training a few weeks ago and got in trouble for that. I just want to be back out there on the pitch. I’ve worked hard on the physio and rehab side of things to get back in the best shape possible.”

Hogg accepts that even if he is fit, he faces a battle to reclaim his place in the Glasgow Warriors side. With no rugby since he broke a cheekbone playing for the Lions in June he would be bound to be rusty while Ruaridh Jackson has been playing well in the full-back role for Glasgow.