Dave Edwards today admitted he is hoping to be available for at least the final five games of the Barclays Premier League season - but is far from getting carried away with his continued rehabilitation.

 

The all-action midfielder returned to training on Monday for the second time since undergoing an ankle operation following an injury sustained at Tottenham in December.

 

So far there's been no bad reaction, and while looking ahead to regaining top fitness Edwards is mindful that his previous comeback had to be aborted.

 

"I trained on Monday and it went well and I haven't had any reaction to it," he said.

 

"But I'm not getting ahead of myself because I went back into training last month and broke down after a couple of days.

 

"I've got to make sure I carry on doing my rehab work as well as the training and hopefully there won't be any more problems.

 

"I'll be doing the extra rehab right through to the end of the season and then can rest up after that.

 

"It feels really good at the moment but will probably need that rest at the end of the season to get right back to full strength.

 

"I won't be getting ahead of myself and saying when I might be fully fit again because it's a big blow if something happens and it goes wrong.

 

"I'm keeping my feet firmly on the floor and just hoping there won't be any more problems and I can crack on."

 

Edwards is unlikely to be able to take the same quickfire route back into the first team squad as Andy Keogh did given the need to be cautious.

 

But if he comes through the week with no hitches, he admits he'll be a lot closer particular as he has managed to retain much of the core fitness built up over the first half of the season.

 

He added:  "I've done all the rehab, got through the first day of training, and am looking forward to getting through the week.

 

"If I get through this week and into next then I should be fine.

 

 

"If the gaffer wants me to get a reserve game at some stage then that will be good.

 

"I've been doing a lot of fitness work during my rehab and was out with Tony Daley last week.

 

"Having done all the testing I haven't actually lost much of my fitness.

 

"I've also lost a few pounds which helps.

 

"It's not nice being injured but I've managed to get a few positives out of it."

 

Boss Mick McCarthy has said that in the current circumstances he would be delighted to have Edwards available for the final six games of the season.

 

The midfielder himself is looking at a similar prognosis, and would love to be available to try and throw himself into the battle for Barclays Premier League survival.

 

"I want to be playing as soon as possible but obviously people will be putting the reins on me to hold me back!" he said.

 

"It's totally up to the gaffer when I've got a chance of being involved.

 

"There are ten games left, and if I was ready for the last five that would be great - anything more would be a bonus.

 

"In terms of the team anything out of the bottom three is good because we'd take that at the end of the season.

 

"Hopefully it will be a good time for me to be available again because there are some important games and pressure games which would be great to be involved in.

 

"On a personal note I've got to make sure I'm ready and available and fully fit because there's no point going out there at 50 per cent in the Premier League.

 

"You need to be 100 per cent every match and that's my main aim at the moment."

 

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