HULL CITY: Brown hopeful over Ashbee

By pbuckingham

IAN Ashbee has been challenged to make his Hull City return before the end of the season after receiving the green light to step up his comeback.

The Tigers' long-standing captain flew to see US-based specialist Dr Richard Steadman this week to determine whether knee surgery carried out in August had been a success.

And with results showing that no further surgery is necessary, Ashbee is now free to accelerate his rehabilitation.

A return to action before May 9 remains a long shot for a player who has not featured in over nine months, but manager Phil Brown is not giving up hope.

"You know what I'm like, I'm an optimist." said Brown.

"I had hoped to see Jimmy Bullard playing in January and it's going to be later. But I think Ash will play again before the end of the season and that has to be the challenge to everyone.

"To him, his family, the physio and our fitness staff, that's the challenge. I think it's realistic. We're talking about another three months before the end of the season so I hope to see him between now and then."

Ashbee is due back in England on Monday but will be buoyed by this week's results.

It is six months since the 33-year-old had 30 holes drilled into a degenerative area of bone at the base of his femur – a near identical operation that saved his career in 2005.

The procedure is intended to encourage growth back in the bone and all signs point to August's operation being a success.

Without a first-team game since last May, Ashbee stands only a slim chance of featuring again this season, but Brown is pleased to see no further complications.

"The good news is he doesn't need a further operation," added Brown.

"The operation he did have was borne out of a lack of growth in the bone of his femur.

"It looks like it's a positive outcome from the last operation so now it's rehabilitation and he'll play when he's ready."

Ashbee has not been alone in seeking medical advice overseas this week.

Geovanni has flown to Portugal to see a knee specialist in the hope of curing a niggling medial ligament problem and was not considered for today's clash with former club Manchester City.

Brown expects to see his Brazilian playmaker back in England early next week, though, and will not yet be ruled out of the trip to Blackburn on Wednesday.

"Geovanni has got a tweak on his medial ligament and he's gone back to Portugal for some treatment," explained Brown.

"He'll be back on Tuesday to see if he's fit with regards to the Blackburn game.

"Foreign players when they come to these shores take time getting into our ways and, although Geovanni hasn't been injured since he's been here, they often have a doctor or a physio that they've had before and still trust."