Bradley Dack is feeling positive about his rehabilitation and is putting a ninth month timeframe on his return.

Dack is approaching three months since undergoing surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament following an injury in the 0-0 draw with Wigan in December.

Manager Tony Mowbray expected Dack to miss much of 2020 with the injury but the attacker is hopeful of being ahead of schedule.

The 26-year-old has been working hard behind the scenes at Brockhall with the medical staff who have recently helped Dominic Samuel back to fitness from the same injury.

Dack’s season was cruelly ended by the injury on December 23, but the attacker is staying positive in his bid to be back as soon as possible.

“The surgeon is really happy, the physios are really happy and most importantly I’m happy with the way it’s going, so hopefully we can keep progressing at this rate and I’ll be back sooner, rather than later,” Dack said.

“I definitely think I’m progressing quicker, from what I’ve been told by the surgeon and the physios.

“I think the timeframe on the actual ligament is really different.

“Getting your body really strong is different to how long the ligament takes to actually attach and get strong.

“We’ll probably re-scan it towards the end to make sure everything is alright inside there.

“The ligament, the surgeon said it could take nine months to get it to 95 per cent strength, so we’re working towards at nine months being ready to fly out, rather than at nine months playing some Under-23’s games and getting back into the first-team.

“We’re working nine months to be ready on the dot, then I’m ready to go.”

Dack is working alongside close friend, midfielder Corry Evans, in the medical room as the Northern Ireland midfielder ticks over his fitness work as he looks to overcome a serious facial injury.

The rehabilitation is the first long-term injury Dack has suffered in his career, but he has thrown himself in to his rehabilitation in a bid to come out of the injury stronger physically and mentally.

And he’s closing in on what he says is the next milestone in his recovery period.

“Going really well actually,” he told the club website.

“I’m kind of enjoying the rehab and getting stronger in the gym.

“I’m not too far off getting onto the running machine, the AlterG they call it, which is the next milestone for me.

“I’m feeling really good, I’m positive about how the knee is going.”