Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer is hoping Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong will return to the club next month.
The 22-year-old posted footage of himself running at Carrington on social media earlier this week, which showed he is closing in on a return to fitness.
Once fully fit, the Dutchman will return to St Andrew’s for the remainder of the season where he will be reunited with Manchester United teammate Teden Mengi.
It was first feared that the forward could be ruled out until around April after sustaining a freak groin injury in training, which required an operation (BBC Sport).
However, having not played since the end of October, it is hoped that the United youngster will soon be back at Wast Hills.
Giving an update to BirminghamLive on Chong, Bowyer said: “He is moving in the right direction. We are hopeful that we should be getting him back in February – fingers crossed that nothing happens between now and then, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel with Tahith.
“We have missed him badly, just what he brings us in the final third. He gets us up the pitch and creates so many problems, we have missed that type of player for sure.
“And his work rate, I can’t say anything negative about him, it’s only positive, he is a great lad and I can not wait for him to come back.
“I don’t know a specific date but some time in February. Then, when he comes back to us, he has got to train for a couple of weeks before he can actually play.”
Bowyer’s comments on Chong show how highly-rated he is in the Midlands and that the Championship side have eagerly been awaiting his return.
The Blues are currently 18th in the Championship table, eight points above the relegation places.
Bowyer will be hoping that a fit and firing Tahith Chong could prove the catalyst in Birmingham finding some form.
They’ve won just one of their last nine games and were knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend by League One side Plymouth Argyle.
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