Paddy Donovan is set to draw a line under six frustrating months out of the ring by returning to action on April 1.

The southpaw stylist has endured two stop-start years and has boxed just four times since November 2020.

But at 9-0, Donovan is still considered a genuine blue chip prospect and is hoping for a big 2023 starting in April.

The Ennis welterweight is expected to box over eight rounds on a card that has yet to be announced in Dublin, Ireland before pushing onto 10-rounders in the summer.

The decorated amateur, who is trained by his compatriot Andy Lee, last boxed in August last year when he boxed to an eight-threes shut-out over 10-2 Tom Hill at the SSE Arena, Belfast.

He was supposed to box at the same venue on December 10 on the undercard of Michael Conlan’s clash with Karim Guerfi but his bout was cancelled at the last minute due to an ‘issue’ with his opponent.

But it is understood his return is now set for April 1 with his team currently in the process of selecting a suitable opponent.

Las Vegas-based promoter Top Rank announced the promotional signing of Donovan back in 2019.