Hull City skipper Ian Ashbee remains confident of seeing action this season.

Ashbee is continuing to make progress from extensive knee surgery in August.

Without a game since May, the 33-year-old is targeting a comeback by early March, providing he gets the all-clear from knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman in January.

"I don't think there's going to be a problem but when you come towards the end of your rehab, it's best to be sure," he told the Hull Daily Mail.

"He said that he was 95 per cent sure I'd be playing football again within five or six months. He's the best in the world so for someone like that to say it, you've got to believe him.

"I'm still on the crutches but we're doing some work on the knee and on the bikes to keep it moving. It's still light work but in a couple of weeks we'll hopefully step it up."