Those were the famous words penned by Mark Twain and they are also the sentiments of Hawthorn midfielder Clinton Young who is aiming to be on the field in round one next season.

Media reports last month said Young's AFL football career was in jeopardy and he was close to retirement.

Young suffered from debilitating groin and hip problems this year and was forced to end his season prematurely.

But Young, formerly of Minyip, said his body had responded well to two off-season operations and he was on track for a return in round one.

"They can write what they like but I know my own body," he said. "My recovery is going along well.

"We started training two weeks ago and I am on course to begin running in a couple of weeks and be back in full training by January.

"If everything goes well I will be ready to play in round one next year, although that is our ball-park aim at the moment so it might take a week or two longer."

Young said his surgeons said he would make a full recovery from the operations.

"The first operation was to fix up my groin," he said.

"That has gone well and they believe they have fixed it up completely.

"The second operation was to clean up my hip a bit. It was a minor procedure and one that is pretty common for footballers these days.

"I have to be careful not to come back too quickly but I am on track to be back at 100 per cent fitness next year.

"It would be the first time since the 2008 grand final that I have played pain free."

Young said he expected his running and kicking abilities to return at full capacity.

The Hawks have recruited heavily in the off-season, bringing in high profile players Josh Gibson, North Melbourne, and Shaun Burgoyne, Port Adelaide.

"Those two have fitted in really well," Young said. "Hopefully they can come in and contribute to our side.

"Everyone was really frustrated about last season. Now we are ready to play at our best in 2010."

As much as Young wishes to return to training, he said one bonus was that he would be travelling with team-mate Max Bailey to England in a week to visit some English Premier League soccer clubs.

"Every year the club sends people to overseas sporting clubs to see how they operate," he said. "I don't follow soccer that closely but when I do my team is Aston Villa because they have two players named Young - Ashley Young and Luke Young.

"I have never been to Europe before but I look forward to watching a couple of games; I hear the crowds are amazing."