Joe Dunne could be back in action for Colchester United by the end of the season.
But only if his recovery from vital knee surgery continues to improve as it is at the moment.
The U's favourite told the Essex County Standard this week: "I want to get back playing and I want to prove a lot of people wrong.
"It's far too early to be predicting anything yet, but the surgeon is quite pleased with my recovery and everything is progressing nicely.
"If the op is successful it will give me more than enough years to see me through to the end of my career."
Dunne, who hasn't played since he was stretchered off in the 1-0 defeat against Bury almost 14 months ago, is currently resting at his Kent home.
He is recuperating from an operation on his left knee exactly a month ago to rectify career-threatening complications.
The problem set in following major reconstruction surgery on a serious cartilage and cruciate ligament injury.
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Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003
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