De Luca went under the knife over the summer and is back in training but faces stiff competition to slot straight back in at centre for Edinburgh when fully fit.

But with ambitions to return to the Scotland team sooner rather than later De Luca has revealed he will be thinking about himself and no-one else in order to do so.

“I’ve built up to the stage where I have just been able to do everything asked of me in training. As yet games have been conditioned but full contact work is not far away now,” said De Luca.

“All being well I might just miss around the third of the season and at Edinburgh we have taken on board Alex Grove, David Bishop and James King, making six centres in total.

“So although I was starting for Scotland at the end of the last Six Nations including that win over Ireland there can be no guarantees I’ll be first choice when I get back.

“That is why I have to make sure I come back at the right time and selfishly look after myself.”