Richmond’s mature-age recruit, Chris Knights, is making steady progress again following a setback on the comeback trail from the serious knee injury that he sustained nearly a full year ago.

Knights tore the patella tendon in his right knee during the Tigers’ win against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in Round 7, 2013, and was subsequently sidelined for the rest of the season.

He was eyeing a Round 1 return this year, before his knee problems resurfaced.

“It’s been a pretty tough battle,” Knights told ‘AFL Live’.

“I’d been ‘rehabing’ it all last season, with the intention to get back and, hopefully, play Round 1.

“I started playing some practice matches early on and I was going alright, but then, unfortunately, the knee started to deteriorate, rather than continue to improve.

“So, speaking to the medical staff, we just decided to go back a few steps, get back into the gym, and try to get some more strength into the quad.

“It’s back on track now, so hopefully, in the next week or two, I’ll resume back with the main group and then start playing some footy again.”

Knights joined Richmond as an unrestricted  free agent, in October 2012, after a 96-game career with the Adelaide Crows.

He played five games with the Tigers before suffering his knee injury.

The 27-year-old is renowned for his versatility and raking left-foot kicks.