Blues midfielder Cole Skuse says he hopes to be back from his knee injury sooner than the currently expected two months. The 32-year-old tore cartilage in training last week and subsequently underwent minor surgery.
"It’s OK, it’s not ideal by any stretch picking up an innocuous little knock in training. I say a little knock, it was quite a tear to the cartilage in my knee so I’ll be out for a few weeks but I’m hoping to be back a lot quicker than is being anticipated,” he said.
"I don’t know whether that’s me being over-optimistic but hopefully that will come to fruition and I’ll be back a lot quicker than expected.”
He says he felt stronger than might have been thought likely even a matter of hours after the surgery.
"Almost to the surprise of my wife when I got back from the operation,” he added. "I had a small operation, a small tidy up, nothing overly serious, it was very straightforward.
"But I’ve walked in the front door after the operation, a few hours after, and she was almost expecting to lift me in the door, whereas I was very much on my feet the same day.
"The swelling’s come down almost straightaway and that was meant to be a lot longer. You break it down to blocks of stages they want you to tick off and I feel as if I’m ticking off a few more than I should be already.
"I’m healing quicker than they anticipated and hopefully that carries on in the same direction.
"So I’m feeling good, I’m feeling as if it’s going very well already and, like I say, I hope to be back quicker than expected.”
He admits picking up the injury is frustrating having impressed in the first few games of the Paul Lambert era.
"More than you probably know,” he continued. "I’ve had to sit on the sofa for four or five days straight just icing and keeping my leg elevated which for me is a very tough thing to do, especially when you’ve got three kids, it’s not easy.
"For someone that hates being injured at the best of times, it’s a real tough challenge just sitting still for a few days.”
Lambert has been effusive in his praise for Skuse’s performances and the midfielder is similarly complimentary towards his new boss.
"I’ve really, really enjoyed my football under him so far,” he added. "It’s been fantastic, not just for myself but you can see a real lift in everyone.
"Being injured at any time is never good but when I feel that I’m doing OK at the minute and having a decent spell, it’s tough to take.
"And with the team being bottom of the league, you want to be the one that’s out there trying to do your bit to amend things and being sat on the side for a few weeks is not the place you want to be.”