LEE Gaskell is refusing to put a timescale on his return to action – but is confident he will be fit and firing for the middle eights.

The Bulls' star man has missed the past five games after aggravating a hamstring injury in the win at Sheffield last month.

The seriousness of the injury had threatened to sideline him for 12 weeks but he is cautiously optimistic about playing again before the promotion-deciding Qualifiers.

Captain Adrian Purtell has spent two months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury but is progressing well with his rehab and will return before the middle eights.

And Gaskell said: "I started running quite a bit this week and am probably ahead of schedule – but I just have to be sensible and not try and rush things.

"At the moment it's going well, so fingers crossed it will be sooner rather than later.

"At first I thought it was going be 12 weeks but I got some good news from the specialist and the rehab' has been going well.

"I won't put a timescale on it or rush anything when I don't need to. But it would be good to get a couple of games in before the middle eights start."

Head coach Rohan Smith is confident 25-year-old Gaskell is on course to return in the coming weeks.

Smith said: "He's making really good progress and is training at a really high level. I think we will see a fit and strong Lee Gaskell pretty soon."

The stand-off is out of contract at the end of the season and has been lined up for a move to Huddersfield.

He is among a group of Bulls players who have attracted interest from Super League sides, with Mitch Clark and Danny Addy expected to join Hull KR, while Dale Ferguson and Tom Olbison are also being linked with the Giants.