By Chris Jack

HAMILTON captain Alex Neil says there is light at the end of the tunnel as he battles back from a hip operation.

The midfielder was ruled out for up to 12 weeks after going under the knife, but has given manager Billy Reid a timely boost following the news that striker Derek Lyle will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Accies stalwart Neil suffered a minor scare after stepping up his recovery, but is confident that he can now make steady progression in his quest for a top-team return.

"I did some work in the pool and some running on hard surfaces, but I got a wee reaction to it and maybe pushed it a bit far," he said.

"There was a slight setback for a couple of days, but I'm hoping to start again today.

"I think it's a good thing because I know how far to push it now without overdoing it.

"You always try and push your injury as far as you can without overdoing it, but that's what I've done.

"I know how far I can push it now and hopefully I can gradually step it up."

Surgeons set Neil's recovery time at three months, but the combative midfielder always hoped for a sooner than expected return and, despite being ahead of schedule, he has not set a date in his mind just yet, leaving the final call up to his manager.

He said: "I don't really want to set a game because it's not for me to say whether I am going to be playing or not.

"I'm just trying to get myself fit and then it's up to the manager when I am ready to go back in. Obviously that will depend on how the team is doing.

"If the team is doing well and winning games then it's going to be more difficult.

"I'd like to be back soon. In four or five weeks from now I'm hoping that I will be round about the first team."

Neil was with Reid and James McArthur to open Soccerworld - Glasgow's first purpose-built fully indoor five-a-side complex.