Slowly but surely, everyone connected with Hull City is beginning to see the possibility of Jimmy Bullard's return on the horizon.
Last week he returned to training, and this week Phil Brown has said he won't rush the super-skilled midfielder back while acknowledging that he has been sorely missed.
Now, excuse the pedantry (and this isn't a go at Brown - heaven knows we have enough reasons to pop at the manager right now but semantic accuracy isn't one of them) but we haven't missed Bullard. This is because you cannot miss something you haven't had.
Bullard has played 37 minutes of football since his move from Fulham back in January, and when he emerged as a sub on that evening at West Ham United it was already obvious that City were going to leave empty-handed.
What we have missed is guile, craft and spot of inspiration, which is the type of thing Bullard's ability and character can produce on a football field if everything slots into place for him.
However, there is the obvious danger of putting every remaining egg into Bullard's basket. Once he is fit and in action, he cannot be relied upon to produce everything straightaway. He isn't a magic wand, he will be looking for a return to the rhythm of playing and getting used to a large number of players he barely knows.
The Tigers do have a brand of nu-fan who will assume that Bullard's return will cure every ill currently sweeping across the first team squad. He won't. Upon his return much will still need to be decided. Will he form part of a midfield that allows still for a reassurance role for Seyi Olofinjana or George Boateng, and yet also lets Dean Marney remain in place to do the hard running? And where will Geovanni fit into this? Will a team which is inevitably going to be fighting off the drop have room for both of those mercurial players?
Of course, we're all desperate for this marvellous player to show his talents in a Hull City shirt, and especially so in our current plight. Bullard remains our most exciting signing ever. But first things first. Let's get him fit, make sure his knee is strong and won't collapse again after one meaty challenge, and once that is confirmed, allow him the time to remember who he plays for and how to play before every Hull City supporter's ambition is firmly placed on his slight shoulders.
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