It was a comment made in jest, but at 48 O’Sullivan knows that he is in the twilight of his career and has already begun weighing up the prospect of coaching the younger generation.

However, he plans to do that at a running club, in a sport he has grown fond of and often beams when he is given the opportunity to talk about his second passion.

“It’s the best thing, I love it at the running club,” O’Sullivan told Virgin Radio. “When I finish playing I think I’ll probably get a coaching badge and try to help out at the club with all types of runners. Whenever I’ve got the time, whenever I finish playing snooker.”

When asked if he plans to do the same and help out the next generation of snooker stars, O’Sullivan emphatically replied: “‘I’d like to help a player, I’d love to help a player because there’s loads of times in my career that I’ve got help and it’s transformed my career. Ray Reardon, Steve Peters and Frank Adamson, I’m ever so thankful for three people who have changed my life.

“If I could maybe help another player develop…I think a lot of it is improving on your weaknesses. A lot of people think they can just pot and break-build, there’s another side to the game that you need to develop.

“Also the mental side of it as well, what Steve Peters (a sports psychologist) has done with me. When you’re mentally strong it’s such a tremendous asset to have as a sportsman.”

O’Sullivan may not play a single professional game of snooker in October, having pulled out of the Wuhan Open, despite declaring his love of competing in China on several occasions.

It would be a surprise to see the Rocket enter the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast later this month, given his distaste for playing events in the UK.

His next appearance at the baize could be at the International Championship, Champion of Champions and then the UK Championship in November.