Alex Bruce optimistic of Hull return before Christmas

Defender Alex Bruce hopes to be back playing at the KCOM Stadium by the end of the year as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury.

The centre-back had an operation on his heel, ruling him out for six months, in the middle of Hull City’s pre-season earlier this year having had injections for the pain at the end of last term.

The 32-year-old was signed by his father Bruce, who has since left the Tigers, as a free agent in the summer of 2012 and has made 85 appearances for the club.

And the Northern Ireland international hopes to be back in action for Hull before Christmas – a period which may be key to their survival prospects.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I had a calcified lump on my ankle and it continued to grow and grow and it became the size of a ping pong ball,” said Bruce.

“I used the inflammatory stuff but eventually it just needed to be sorted out. I hope to be back in training next month and back playing by the start of December.”

Alex’s father, Steve Bruce, left his position as manager of Hull at the start of the season by mutual consent and has been heavily linked to the vacant Aston Villa job.