STEPHEN Quinn will be welcomed back into Hull City's squad to face Manchester City tomorrow with manager Steve Bruce tipping the midfielder to shine in the Premier League.
Quinn has so far been a frustrated onlooker during the opening month of the campaign after he suffered a hamstring strain during the final weeks of pre-season.
The ill-timed injury ruled him out of the games with Chelsea and Norwich but a return to full training this week has provided the midfielder with hope he could yet play a role in the opening month of the season.
A final check on Quinn's fitness today will determine his involvement at Manchester City tomorrow.
Although the Republic of Ireland international will not be considered for a start at the Etihad Stadium, he could win a place on the Tigers bench if he comes through training unscathed today.
That could lead to Quinn's first Premier League appearance since he was relegated with Sheffield United in 2007 and Bruce will be delighted to see a trusted member of his promotion-winning squad back in action.
"Stephen Quinn has trained this week and if he trains tomorrow, like I'm hoping he will do, he should be okay," said Bruce.
"In my mind, I'm not really thinking about risking him for one game.
"He'll probably miss the weekend but then he'll have two weeks to get himself into tip-top condition and be ready in a fortnight's time.
"Stephen is one of those players where he's waited a long, long time to play in the big league and I think he's a terrific little player who can shock a few people.
"Once he gets in the team he'll be a good player I'm sure.
"The stage is his now and it's up to him to make a fist of it."
Having collected a hamstring injury in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Eintract Braunschweig during City's tour of Germany, Quinn will be handled with caution by the club's medical team.
A two-week break follows tomorrow's trip to Manchester City and not named in the Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifiers Quinn can target the visit of Cardiff on September 14 for a smooth comeback.
Bruce will replace the suspended Yannick Sagbo with Danny Graham in his City attack tomorrow but could otherwise name an unchanged side from the one that defeated Norwich last weekend.
