Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer remains confident of seeing Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong back in his squad soon with the midfielder making progress after undergoing thigh surgery.
An innocuous training injury saw 22-year-old Chong return to Carrington to rehabilitate following the procedure.
Bowyer has been effusive in his praise and admiration for the Reds youngster after making an impact in the early stages of his temporary spell at St Andrew's.
Birmingham welcomed another United loanee this month as Teden Mengi arrived until the end of the season.
But for the Blues boss, he's positive he will see Chong back in his side, a player they've missed "badly".
“He is moving in the right direction,” Bowyer said via Birmingham Live. “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 cannot 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.”
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