MICHAEL MURPHY HAS thanked the Donegal management team of Jim McGuinness and Rory Gallagher for putting no pressure on him to return from injury, and he says he has no idea when he will be back.

The talismanic forward has been out of action since picking up a knee injury in the league clash with Dublin at Croke Park last month.

He had a scope on the knee at the Dublin Sports Clinic after that match but is still none the wiser about how long he will be on the sidelines.

“It’s all about the rehab now and hopefully I’ll get back at the best time possible, whether that’s in a number of weeks or a number of months,” the 22-year-old told the Irish Daily Star.

“I am very lucky that Jim McGuinness and Rory Gallagher aren’t putting me under any pressure so it’s just a matter of coming back when it’s fully healed.

“I have been given the rehab programme and whenever the time is right to come back and get playing football again, then that’s when it will be.

“Jim and everyone else are on the same wavelength about that.”

McGuinness is also sweating on the fitness of four other key players, with the Ulster Championship clash against Cavan only five weeks away.

All-Star full-back Neil McGee was a late withdrawal from last Sunday’s win over Armagh with a back injury, while Leo McLoone had to be helped from the pitch after suffering a heavy knock late in the game. Christy Toye is on the treatment table also and missed Sunday’s game, as did Paddy McGrath.

“Neil has a back injury and was a late withdrawal and was in fierce pain before the game so we are obviously going to have that investigated this week to find out what the problem ism,” said the Donegal boss.

“Leo (McLoone) took a heavy knock to the hip late in the game and is a concern and I’d say it will be another two weeks before Christy (Toye) will be back training.”

Men Down: Injury list grows ahead of Cork semi-final