Kieron Dyer is aiming to be back in action before the end of the season as he continues to make good progress from his serious injury.
The West Ham United midfielder sat down with WHUTV to give an update on his rehabilitation as he fights his way to fitness after a double leg-break just three games into his Hammers career away to Bristol Rovers on 28 August. He said: "I have progressed a lot. I am running very comfortably. I am at three-quarter pace and I am ready to push on again. It is ahead of schedule and going really well."
The England international has just had a follow-up procedure on his right leg, but - as he showed off the scars of his initial surgery - stressed it was all part of the recovery process. "My leg got pinned and so I had a very simple operation where they removed the screws because they cause you a bit of discomfort. I had that last week, five days rest and then I can crack on again.
"I feel fine, obviously when you first run you are getting the shin used to the constant pounding. I had a bit of discomfort in the early stages but now I am fine and feeling extremely comfortable. I am ready to push on hopefully to sprinting soon. If you set timescales, I think the physios have a nervous breakdown but I definitely believe that I will figure before the end of the season."
Dyer, who turned 29 last month, has been avidly following the squad's fortunes and like all associated with the club, has been amazed by the togetherness and form shown despite various setbacks. He said: "It makes me laugh how everyone says Portsmouth, Villa and everyone are having such great seasons. We are only five or six points behind them and we haven't fielded our strongest team at any stage of this season.
"That is testament to this club, to the manager and all the players involved that we are still in there with a great chance. Hopefully being out of the cup competitions can be a blessing in disguise because we can concentrate on the league and give it a good push." While Dyer is hopeful he will come back into a team that is pushing for a European spot come the final few games of the season, he is also looking for some of his team-mates to get international recognition when Fabio Capello names his first England squad at the end of the week.
"I do think there will be a few surprises," the summer signing from Newcastle United said. "When Sven first came, he went to watch a number of games and there were people like Chris Powell from Charlton who made the squad. The new manager Capello seems to be doing the game, going to a lot of games and there is a lot of players who he might be impressed with. Hopefully we will get a couple of the boys in the squad from West Ham."