WILL Hoskins continues to be well ahead of schedule in his recovery from a groin injury.

The 28-year-old suffered the freak injury against Southend United last month, with the U’s initially ruling him out until the new year.

But the damage was not as severe as first thought and Hoskins’s hard work is paying off.

The striker has started light ball work on the grass.

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Michael Appleton, United’s head coach, said: “Will’s making good progress and is doing his rehab on the grass, which is encouraging.

“In his head he looks to be in a really good place.

“It’s exciting the thought of having himself in and around it because I think just before he got injured I thought he started to show the quality he’s got.”

If all goes well he could return to contention late next month, but Appleton is determined to ease Hoskins back in gently.

He said: “I do want to see him play a couple of development games before we get him in the fold because I want him right at it as soon as he comes into the frame.

“He’s not a million miles away and is certainly a lot closer than we thought when we first saw him go over.”

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