By Mark Heys
July 7 2006

Ricardo Gardner is set to make a return to first team action in October having had a third operation on his cruciate knee ligament this summer. Gardner sustained the injury towards the end of last season in the away defeat against Tottenham Hotspur and was immediately sent to top surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in America.

The Jamaican international has previously visited the specialist knee clinic for similar injuries in 2000 and 2004 so manager Sam Allardyce is remaining upbeat about the future fitness of his star defender.

Speaking to the club's official website, Allardyce said that Gardner was making good progress in his rehabilitation programme with the rest of the squad in Switzerland.

"Ricardo had a successful operation and as things stand he should be back in action during October. He is currently going through an intense rehabilitation programme with the sports science team in Bad Ragaz.

"It is a blow to our preparations for the start of the new campaign, but Ricardo is a strong character and will return in a positive manner