Scotland will be without Sam Skinner for the Autumn Nations Series next month, but the Edinburgh lock hopes he will be back fighting fit for the Six Nations after a knee operation in the summer.  

Skinner missed Scotland’s summer trip to the Americas to have surgery on a long-running problem with his right knee.  

The 29-year-old explained: “I had a fairly extensive MOT on my knee in the summer. 

“I’d been carrying, in truth for a couple of seasons, a sticky knee and I just wanted to bite the bullet and get it sorted so in my head I can apply myself 100% on the field rather than get through training.  

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“I spent a couple of years missing a lot of training sessions and trying to get myself out there which doesn’t really help me, or anybody else." 

The former Exeter Chiefs lock also outlined when he hopes to make his first appearance of the season.  

“My goal is to be back for the Benetton game which is after the autumn internationals at the end of November,” he said.  

Sam Skinner in action for Edinburgh last seasonSam Skinner in action for Edinburgh last season (Image: SNS) “That is if everything goes perfectly well, which I hope they do, and if I’ve done enough to warrant selection, which is another kettle of fish. That’s my target.” 

Skinner gave his thoughts on Edinburgh’s start to the season, which saw the capital club lose their first three matches – including the capitulation to the Lions in Johannesburg – before bouncing back with a bonus point success over the Stormers last weekend.  

“It’s been a tough start but we knew it was going to be a tough start to the season,” the 35-times capped Scotland international said.  

“We were gunning to win all those games, obviously, and the Lions game will have looked like a big surprise but we didn’t stick to our gameplan in that game.  

“We know what we’ve been working on behind closed doors, we’re moving in the right direction. You saw a little bit of that against Stormers, which is great, and hopefully we can start building a bit of momentum.” 

Edinburgh and Scotland lock Sam SkinnerEdinburgh and Scotland lock Sam Skinner (Image: SNS)

There is a sense of deja vu when chatting to Skinner about his injury. After playing at the World Cup, he missed the first half of the club season before making his return just in time to be involved with Scotland in the Six Nations.  

Skinner admitted being sidelined again is “frustrating”.  

He added: “The hardest thing about being injured, and I’ve been injured a fair bit in my career, is not feeling like you can contribute to the team.” 

And Skinner hopes that when he does return, the summer surgery - which included repairing a torn meniscus and removing a growth in his knee – will allow him to return at the peak of his powers after a difficult couple of years.  

"I played the second half of last season but I wasn’t able to perform physically,” he admitted. 

“Let’s be frank, there was an injury or two in the Six Nations and I managed to be involved in all the games, but I wanted to be really knocking the door down physically so I can apply myself properly.  

“Last year was a bit different, I was hungover physically from the World Cup and it was about getting fit to play, whereas this year I want to apply myself properly.“ 

And while he was thrust into international action last season after just two outings – and 110 minutes of rugby – he is confident he’ll be back in plenty of time to stake a claim for Gregor Townsend’s Six Nations squad.  

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“I had two games last year, so I’ll have more than that. I don’t know what the numbers are, but I’ll be available for maybe eight games.” 

Among them will be the 1872 Cup double-header against Glasgow and Challenge Cup clashes with Vannes and Bayonne.   

“They are some really exciting games to be part of,” Skinner said, before vowing: “I’m going to do everything I can to be involved and help the team win those games.”