Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss has revealed that utility back Jared Payne's head injury has shown signs of improvement but he is unsure when he will return to action.
The Ireland and British and Irish Lions international was sidelined for three months with a kidney injury, sustained on Test duty late last year, before returning to action earlier this year.
He was then selected for the Lions tour of New Zealand but returned to Ireland after complaining of a headache ahead of the midweek match against the Hurricanes and has not played since then.
Payne has received continuous medical attention after complaining of headaches at Ulster training sessions since his return from the Lions tour.
And Kiss said although there are signs of improvement in Payne's condition, he does not want to speculate about a return date for the 32-year-old.
"He’s been through a pretty torrid time with the kidney, then the constant doubts on the British and Irish Lions tour and now he’s come back with this situation," he told the Irish Mirror.
"He’s getting the right care. We're going through a lot of different ideas and methods to get to the root of it.
"I think we’re very close to it now and he's in as good a space as he's been for a long time. We're optimistic it'll be sooner rather than later."
Kiss said the level of contact taken by Payne at Ulster training sessions has been raised and lessened when necessary to gauge how he responds.
"It’s a solid process and the outcome here is that he's in the best place possible to do what he wants to do, and that’s play for Ulster," he added.
"We want to be optimistic but it’s player welfare first. He has a young child that has just come along, his second.
"He’s doing more and more contact so the trajectory's in the right way.
"There’s been a lot of investigation done and gradual methods to expose him to high levels and see how he responds.
"He's so important to Ulster and to Irish rugby. He’s has a big heart and wants to put that jersey on.
"But we want to make sure it’s the right timing. That’s out responsibility and our duty. And we’ll get there."
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