MATTY Fryatt remains on course to play a part in Hull City's final month of the season, despite not being considered for the Easter double-header against Huddersfield Town and Watford.
After almost eight months out with an Achilles injury, Fryatt is edging towards full fitness to provide the Tigers with a timely lift in their battle for automatic promotion out of the Championship.
The 27-year-old is nearing the end of his second week of full training and while manager Steve Bruce is loath to push the striker to play against Huddersfield tomorrow or Watford on Tuesday, a comeback is looming.
City's home game with Middlesbrough a week tomorrow may also come too soon, but the trip to Ipswich Town on April 13 could be considered.
"The surgeon has given Matty a timeframe of six months and I believe he's currently at five months and one week or two," explained Bruce, ahead of tomorrow's clash at Huddersfield.
"That will be in his mind, but with another week of training he'll be in a position to know if he's ready.
"The last thing I'm going to do is put pressure on him to come back. That wouldn't be fair on him or us.
"So far, he's pain-free and running around like a two-year-old, so maybe in the next week or 10 days he will stand a chance.
"He's done his rehab and come back into training, so now comes the last step. Matty needs to be psychologically right for it, but any role he can play would be a big boost for us."
Fryatt has not played a competitive fixture since the League Cup game with Rotherham on August 11 and not in the Championship since the final day of last season at West Ham United.
The length of his lay-off tempers expectations within the City camp, but welcoming back a striker boasting a record of 25 goals in 60 starts for the Tigers will give Bruce an option he has been denied all season.
