Eventually Primus visited the Colorado clinic of world-renowned knee surgeon Dr Richard Steadman, who discovered the player had suffered a similar problem to the first one, although they were unrelated.

After the second operation in November, Primus braced himself for months of rehabilitation – and that is when it nearly became too much to take.

“I spent a week in the United States after the operation, but then came home,” he said. 

“I was laid up in bed seven hours a day and on a machine that kept the knee mobile for a further seven hours. 

“I could put no weight at all on it for six weeks and that was when my mind began to wander and I doubted whether I would ever play again.

“It was going to go one way or the other – and I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be. 

Thankfully that mood lasted only a couple of days before I made up my mind that I was going to give it my best shot.”

Primus combined watching television with reading the Bible, and said: “It was the faith that kept me going. Christianity is a big part of my life. And it’s not just about going to church on a Sunday, it’s something that is with me throughout the whole week.”

As Pompey edged closer to their first FA Cup final appearance in 69 years, Primus could only look on. 

“It was a bit frustrating for me because I would have loved to be involved,” he said. 

“But I went to both the semi-final and final, was out there on the pitch before the game with the rest of the lads and soaked up the atmosphere.

“Because I wasn’t playing maybe I could take it all in better than the rest.”

Primus spent much of the summer playing catch-up on his fitness and has relished the chance to be involved in several pre-season games.

“There are exciting times ahead for Portsmouth. We are on the verge of something really good,” he said.

“My aim now is just to be in the squad for the Wembley game. 

“After what has happened over the past 15 months, I would regard that as an achievement in itself.”