STEPHEN Quinn is certain he will be fully fit to face Chelsea in Hull City's Premier League opener, despite enduring an interrupted pre-season campaign.
Quinn was back in action for the first time since undergoing surgery to remove an ingrown toenail when playing the opening 45 minutes of City's 2-1 loss at Birmingham on Saturday.
The injury ensured he was sent home after just one day of the Tigers' training camp in Portugal and leaves the midfielder playing catch-up in the final three weeks of pre-season.
Another opportunity should come around quickly when City travel to Peterborough United this evening and Quinn said: "It was a set-back but I didn't miss too many days. I was still doing some running and biking. I kept up the fitness so I feel good.
"I know it's a bit embarrassing that I'm out because of a toenail but it's one of those things that needed sorting before the new season.
"I'm quite a slim lad and thankfully it doesn't take me much to get fit, so I imagine I'll be up to speed quickly."
Quinn, crowned Players' Player of the Season during his first year with the Tigers, felt a recurrence of his toe injury in a 90-minute outing against North Ferriby a fortnight ago.
It had been hoped the problem had been solved over the summer but City took no chances for a second time.
Quinn explained: "I had an ingrown toenail and had it out during the summer. I thought after three or four weeks off it was okay but when I started against Ferriby I felt it. I had to come back from Portugal it was so painful. It felt like a razor-blade in my toe.
"The doc took it out and thankfully it healed in four or five days. That meant I could train with the lads when they got back from Portugal and get 45 minutes under my belt at Birmingham."
Quinn's return could not prevent City falling to a first defeat of pre-season on Saturday. A 2-1 loss at Birmingham left scope for improvement but promoted Quinn's chances during a tidy display on the left of a midfield three.
Four friendlies remain to find cohesion and the Republic of Ireland international took little notice of a defeat at St Andrew's.
He added: "It's really exciting times here. Everyone is out to prove a point to the gaffer after a few additions. The lads have put it in during pre-season and maybe that showed after a tough week in Portugal."
