Striker Noel Hunt says he’s making good progress as he recovers from his medial knee ligament injury and thinks he'll be fit before the end of the season. The 32-year-old had seemed set to miss the rest of the campaign having been stretchered off after falling awkwardly in the closing stages of the 2-1 win at Fulham last month.
Hunt is currently back in his home town Waterford with the squad having been given four days off by manager Mick McCarthy.
Speaking to local radio station WLRfm he said: "I really thought I would be out of action for at least three months but I am back cycling at the moment and I think I will be fit for the tail end of the season.
"I am feeling stronger every day and I am happy with the way things are going. I would love to be playing now, especially following the victories against Bolton and Watford.”
Hunt, who was promoting a fundraising cycle ride for local GAA club Clonea-Power along with legendary Irish cyclist Sean Kelly, is hopeful that the Blues can still make the automatic promotion places.
"If we can beat Bournemouth on Good Friday I believe we could make the top two,” he added.
"There are a lot of twists and turns to come yet and with most of the top teams playing each other and we will be right there on the last day of the season.
"The Bournemouth match is massive, we know that but now that the confidence is back following the last minute win over Watford the lads are more than capable of beating them.”