HA!

Everybody said it could not happen. Impossible. It is in the books. It has been written.

But TV shows do not work like that. If a character brings in ratings, it is usually re-written so that it can linger longer in the plot, or even be resurrected.

If this is true, Ian McShane basically confirmed that his character is involved in bringing back The Hound back to health.

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/game-of-thrones-ian-mcshane-the-hound-returns

This will probably be incorporated in the new book to make it canon.

This is a new phase for George R.R. ... he not only kills characters by the ton. He now resurrects them by the boatload.