For Jaeger O’Meara, the decision to undergo two bouts of cutting edge knee surgery, in a bid to prolong his promising career in the AFL, was a no-brainer.

Gold Coast’s young midfield star flew to London to have both knees caps shaved by renowned sports surgeon, Professor Hakan Alfredson.

The Swedish tendon specialist performed the same career-saving procedure on tennis mega-star Rafael Nadal.

Now back at the club’s training base, the 20-year-old has been placed on restricted duties, with an ambition of commencing a graduated-running program in the weeks to come.

While optimistic a NAB Challenge match and round one berth isn’t out of reach for him, O’Meara said he won’t be putting a timeframe on his expected return, instead focusing on completing a full rehabilitation plan.

“I’m not too worried about that at the moment,’’ he told The Courier Mail.

“I am just happy I have had the surgery done. It is about increasing the longevity of my career.

“I have spoken to the coaching staff and medical staff and t will take a while. It doesn’t matter if I miss the first couple of games. I want to be able to play for 10 years, not five.’’

With a possible maiden finals berth for Gold Coast still on the cards late in the 2014 season, O’Meara said the decision to play through the pain of lingering knee problems was his own.

“It was my call, obviously we were a chance of playing finals for a lot of the year,’’ he said.

“The pain I could cope with, it was more the loss of fitness and I felt my skills were deteriorating as the season wore on that was the issue.

“I just wasn’t able to train.’’

General Manager of Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, was adamant had O’Meara persisting knee condition gone untreated, his injury would only have become worse.

“This gives him the chance to have a full career,’’ Ashcroft said.

“He played a whole season in a lot of discomfort and for him to perform the way he did was an unbelievable effort.’’