Gareth Anscombe has been out injured for so long that around the time the script went so badly wrong for him, many people were wondering whether Liverpool football club would ever win a league title again.
Working from home? According to lots of folk back then, a mere excuse for getting out of bed late, switching on a laptop and keeping half an eye on a televised replay of some Scottish second division match that took place the night before.
Much has changed, indeed, since August, 2019, when Anscombe damaged knee ligaments playing for Wales in a World Cup warm-up against England at Twickenham.
Next Wednesday will mark the two-year anniversary of that desperate day for the Ospreys fly-half.
But it isn’t all bad news now.
Far from it.
He is back in full training with the Ospreys and expected to start the new season on time.
After so long out, he might have been expected to be rusty, but he’s wasted little time underlining his quality to all in Swansea.
“The word is he’s looking quite the part,” said a source close to the region.
“He’s a class act who has time on the ball.
“His quality has been evident to all and he has massive presence in the way he conducts himself. For a young player like Josh Thomas to have Gareth around and Stephen Myler as well is huge.
“Gareth’s been out a long time, so it’s a case of not overdoing it and working at the right pace.
“But the signs are really promising.”
More than two years after signing for the Ospreys, the 30-year-old has yet to play a game for them.
But he shouldn’t be long putting that right.
If the Liberty Stadium region will be eager to see him on the starting grid for the new campaign, so will Wales.
With his vision, class and authority, Anscombe had been Warren Gatland’s pick at No. 10 for four of the five Six Nations games Wales played in the Grand Slam-winning season of 2019, with the the Kiwi using Anscombe and Dan Biggar in tandem.
It was a strategy that worked to a tee and had he stayed fit there’s every chance Anscombe would have toured South Africa with the Lions this summer.
But that’s gone now.
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Now, the 30-year-old will want to bank some game-time before he even thinks of Wales after so long out, but everything appears to be heading in the right direction with his planned comeback.
All in the Welsh game will surely wish him well as he gears up for his return.
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