Jack Ross admits Hibernian are not putting a timescale on Scott Allan's return to action despite the playmaker rejoining his teammates for first team training.
Allan has not played since August, with a mystery illness being blamed for his continuing absence.
However, there has been positive signs for the 29-year-old after he was given the green light from doctors to pull his boots back on this week and join in with his colleagues at their East Mains base.
But boss Ross is adamant the former Dundee United, Portsmouth and Celtic player will not be rushed along the road to recovery.
He said: "Scott is back in, which is another step forward for him. It's small steps forward for him but it is another box ticked.
"He's got a fair bit to go in terms of building up his training given the length of time he's been out.
"But it's all good progress for us and all positive for Scott, most importantly.
"I don't think we've put any kind of timeline on anything. We don't want to put any kind of pressure on him to be available by a certain time."
Ross admitted Allan had made good initial progress on a return to first team football, but added that coaching and medical staff were keeping a watchful eye on the midfielder as he took the first small steps on the comeback trail.
"We will just continue to see how he progresses. We've done that from day one that he became unavailable and we'll continue to do the same," he said.
"In the recent time he's made good progress and if that continues then hopefully he will be in a good place physically and may be in contention.
"But neither us as a club or Scott as an individual are really looking that far ahead at the moment."
