Reggae Boy Rodolph Austin could be back in contention for English Championship team Leeds United as early as the Christmas period, the team's manager Neil Warnock recently revealed.

The worst was feared for the tough-tackling midfielder following a seemingly innocuous challenge, which saw him stretchered off in a league game against Watford last month. Initial assessments suggested that the player had sustained a double-leg break, which would have kept him out of the game for at least six months. However, further test revealed that the midfielder had suffered a cracked ankle bone. The midfielder, who has missed the last four games for the club, is reported to be running again.

outside chance

"He's coming along really well and there's an outside chance that he'll be back in time for Tonge going back to Stoke," Warnock told UK publication the Yorkshire Evening Post. Stoke midfielder Michael Tonge, who was on loan at the club, is set to return to his parent club Stoke City on December 22.

"That would be a big bonus and one way or the other he should definitely be with us for the start of January. We aren't going to rush him but at the same time it'll be great to have him back. He's been a big player," Warnock said.

The hard-nosed 27-year-old has been a fan favourite at the club since his arrival from Norwegian team SK Brann in the summer. The prognosis will also be good news for Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, who were concerned that the player would not have been ready for the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, which will get under way in February, with an away match against Mexico at the famous Azteca Stadium.

Neil Warnock