Brady is likely to return and give big lift to Tigers

The midfielder, in outstanding form for the Tigers in 2013-14, underwent hernia surgery on October 2 and was originally scheduled to be sidelined for a month.

Manager Steve Bruce did harbour some hope that Brady could return at Goodison Park and that is likely to be realised, just 17 days after going under the knife.

Meanwhile, another star of the Tigers’ impressive start to the Premier League campaign, influential centre-half James Chester, could also make an earlier than expected comeback, as could captain Robbie Koren.

Both were thought to be unlikely to be back before the next international break due to separate hamstring and foot injuries sustained in September, which had been expected to rule them out until mid to late November.

On Brady, Bruce said: “I’ll go by the advice of our medical department, they are the ones I trust implicitly.

“What the hell do I know about it? I get as much as I can from them and they are pretty hopeful.”

On Chester and Koren, he added: “Next weekend is too soon, but we could possibly see them again before the next break.

“They are both a few weeks in now, but we are still looking at two or three weeks away.”

The impending return of Brady, whose performances had been starting to resonate with top-flight aficionados across the country – and not just those in East Yorkshire – is a major boost for Bruce ahead of a tough clash at Everton.

It has been a rewarding time on and off the pitch for expectant father Brady and Bruce feels the added sense of responsibility that comes with becoming a parent can further nurture his impressive footballing development – and help him become a permanent top-flight fixture for the rest of his career.

Challenging the former Manchester United player to build on his seamless transition to Premier League surroundings, Bruce added: “He’s had a really good start and the rest is up to him.

“He’s got a natural ability to hit the ball with both feet, he’s got a trick and he’s got everything going for him.

“We need to make sure he keeps applying himself and make sure he’s a Premier League player for the next 10 or 12 years.

“That determination to succeed needs to be there.

“The ones that succeed are very quietly driven.

“We hope Robbie can grasp that. He’s showing signs that he’s starting to settle down. He’s going to be a dad soon and that extra responsibility will hopefully do him the world of good.”

Another who has taken to Premier League life consummately is striker Sone Aluko and while terms have yet to be agreed on a new deal for the former Rangers player, Bruce is confident there will be positive developments shortly.

Commenting on the situation with Aluko, whose current contract expires in June, he said: “Maybe we’ll know a bit more in the next few days. We’re trying our utmost to try and get it over the line. Let’s hope this time next week everything will be hunky dory. At the minute, though, we’re still boxing a little bit.

“The Bosman situation has changed things for every player, manager and club.

“It’s something we have to deal with, but we are confident we can get a deal done.”

A decisive week on the World Cup qualification front has yielded contrasting fortunes for the Tigers’ international contingent, with Honduras full-back Maynor Figueroa celebrating his country claiming a place at Brazil 2014 – he scored the second goal in the 2-2 draw with Jamaica which saw them claim the last automatic CONCACAF qualification place.

In contrast, Egyptian duo Ahmed Elmohamady and Gedo endured a tale of woe, with the North African nation needing an amazing turnaround to keep their World Cup dream alive after they crashed 6-1 in the first leg of their African play-off tie with Ghana.

Closer to home, England players are currently basking in the glow of booking their place in the finals and while Hull’s wait for a first Three Lions senior international goes on, Bruce is not putting it past the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Curtis Davies to gatecrash the World Cup party – especially given the shock rise to international prominence for former Leeds United loanee Andros Townsend.

Bruce sees no reason why a World Cup wild card cannot come from the banks of the Humber.

He said: “There’s always a surprise going to a World Cup, someone who comes from nowhere.

“Look at Townsend. There’s the prime example to anyone aspiring to be in the squad.

“If you’re playing well at any time, who knows? That’s the carrot. Roy Hodgson’s said it himself, he’s not going to dismiss anyone just yet, so we hope some of our lads can keep their form. It will be wonderful to have one of our lads going to a World Cup.”

On the mixed fortunes for Figueroa, Elmohamady and Gedo, he added: “Maynor scored the equaliser that got them to the World Cup, so he’s cock-a-hoop.

“He’s got it all but, above all, he’s a really top class pro. A great lad to have around the place.

“He doesn’t drink and he looks after himself.

“He gets everything he deserves by going to a World Cup.

“For the others (Elmohamady and Gedo), it’ll be a big, big shock for them to lose 6-1 to Ghana.

“They’ll have been lambasted in Egypt, don’t worry about that.”