Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea has raised concerns over whether stricken centre Ollie Smith will play for the club this season.

The 28-year-old British Lion has been sidelined since December after rupturing cruciate ligaments in his knee against Aviva Premiership champions Saracens.

Quins signed Tom Cheeseman on a short-term deal to plug the gap and have since added Cornish Pirates Matt Hopper to the squad for the coming campaign.

Initial reports said it may be well in to the forthcoming season before Smith regains full fitness, however, O’Shea declined to put even an approximate date on his return.

“First things first, I think Ollie just wants to able to walk again properly. I wouldn’t like to say when he’ll be back,” he said.

“He is being very professional and working very hard, but it I am afraid it is going to be a long haul.

“He is doing a little bit of coaching with Mike Schmid at Esher - which is a good link up for us - as well as doing all his rehab.

“I am pretty sure he’d love to be doing a bit of running down there, but he has got to take it slowly.”

O’Shea will welcome back his England Saxons and U20s contingent to training next week as pre-season preparations gather pace with the start of the J.P Morgan Asset Management Premiership Sevens.

And the Stoop chief has warned his men he will be watching closely to see who is ready to step into a starting berth this season.

“With Gonzalo Camacho moving on there is a place on the wing up for grabs,” he added.

“The likes of Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Miles Mantella, Seb Stegmann, Tom Williams, Ross Chisholm and Sam Smith should be out to prove something.

“We want someone young and fresh to put their hands up and say they are ready for selection.”