Adam O’Brien is closing in on a first-team return after committing himself to the Bulls with a new long-term deal.

The highly-rated hooker, 18, has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury in the final pre-season friendly at Hull on January 29.

He has been gradually working his way back to full fitness and should be in contention to play for Mick Potter’s team within the next fortnight.

O’Brien had another year left on his contract at Odsal but recently signed an extension which keeps him at the club until the end of 2016.

The former Siddal amateur put pen to paper on the deal shortly before news of the club’s financial crisis became public - and the RFL will not officially register any new contract until the current situation at Odsal has been resolved.

But O’Brien said: “I’m really happy with the new contract. The Bulls have always looked after me and I’m positive the current situation will soon be sorted out and the club will move forward.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but the way I’ve got to look at it is that I’m here for another four years.

“I’ve just got to train hard and hopefully make myself a Super League player and a regular first-teamer.

“On the financial side, fingers crossed someone comes in. As players all we can do is go out and train and play.

“There is a pack of young forwards here who could potentially come through and stay together for a good five or ten years.”

Having underlined his rich potential with a number of impressive displays during the Bulls’ injury-hit 2011 campaign, O’Brien again showed a maturity beyond his years during pre-season.

He featured prominently against Castleford and Dewsbury before succumbing to injury at the KC Stadium – seven days before the Super League opener at home to Catalan Dragons.

That was a cruel blow for the talented teenager, who proved a capable deputy for Heath L’Estrange and Matt Diskin last term.

O’Brien is now fast approaching full fitness and said: “I’m hopefully only a week or two away from a return.

“I’m back doing quite a bit of running on the soft surface and then hopefully I’ll be back doing stuff on the grass very soon.

“It has been frustrating not being able to play, especially with Heath (L’Estrange) getting banned recently and other people getting injuries.

“I could have got a bit of game-time against Doncaster and Huddersfield.

“It has annoyed me a bit but it’s been my first major injury, so I’ve not rushed it and just taken my time. Hopefully I can come back stronger.”

Potter said yesterday: “Adam is a tremendous prospect with lots of ability. He works hard, reads the game well and has come on in leaps and bounds in my time here.

“He has worked hard following his injury and I’m delighted he has signed the new deal to keep him here for the next five years.”

Meanwhile, Bulls forward John Bateman will appear before the RFL’s disciplinary committee today charged with a grade D offence on Warrington full back Brett Hodgson.

The match review panel decided that in making a ‘crusher tackle’ in the 36th minute of the weekend Challenge Cup tie, Bateman had made dangerous contact with Hodgson.

The suspension tariff for a player found guilty of a grade D offence is three to four matches.