A clutch of debilitating bone spurs have been removed from Clay Smith?s left knee and the national captain is set to return home tomorrow from Philadelphia to begin what could be up to four months of rehabilitation.

The 35-year-old went under the knife last Friday and was in a considerable amount of pain over the weekend despite an almost constant diet of painkillers.

But speaking to yesterday, Smith revealed that he is now able to hobble about without the aid of crutches and that the considerable swelling around the knee is begin to go down.

?The weekend was pretty rough,? he said.

?When they went in there properly they realised that the knee was in a pretty bad shape and there where a hole bunch of bone spurs which had to be shaved off.

?So I was in a large amount of pain when I woke up and to be honest it has only just started to get better. The surgeon insisted that the knee needed to have aggressive rehab so right from outset I?ve been walking around without any help. I?ve had two therapy sessions a day since the operation and I?ve been spending time on the bike and other machines trying to get a decent range of motion back.?

For any sportsman, the process of rehabilitation after a major injury is a hugely frustrating time and Smith is well aware that he has many hours of monotonous gym work ahead of him.

With Bermuda?s batsman under pressure following a disappointing tour to the United Arab Emirates, Smith?s runs in the middle order have been sorely missed and the need for him to return as soon as possible is pressing.

The skipper was adamant, however, that unlike previous occasions, he will wait until the knee is fully healed before going anywhere near a cricket field.

?This is my third knee operation and I?ve got to make sure that it is the last,? he said.

?Before I?ve been a bit too keen to come back early and have suffered as a result. This time it will be different. It?s going to be tough for sure, but I?ll have the thought of being fit to lead the country in the World Cup to keep me motivated.?

The rehab will be supervised by national squad physio Daniel Morgan, who said yesterday that he would wait until he had read a copy of the surgeon?s report before deciding on the appropriate programme for Smith.