Luke Gale is hoping to be given the green light to return in Sunday’s crunch visit of Super League leaders Huddersfield.

The Bulls scrum half has been sidelined for the past two months after sustaining ankle ligament damage against Wigan on February 19.

He underwent surgery and had his ligaments held together by a steel cable to aid the rehabilitation process.

Having missed the last nine games, his recovery is nearing completion and he stepped up the intensity of his training this week.

Gale, a close-season signing from London Broncos, seems certain to return against Huddersfield or Warrington in the Challenge Cup the following weekend.

It was confirmed yesterday that the fifth-round Cup tie at Warrington will be televised by the BBC on Saturday, April 28 and kick off at 2.40pm.

“Training has gone well and I’ve got a couple of tests to do this week but there’s a possibility of being fit for the Huddersfield game,” said Gale.

“If I’m not ready for this weekend then I should be ready in time for the Warrington game.

“It’s been over six weeks now since I had surgery and they put a steel tie around my ligaments to keep them together. It feels very good and it’s just about getting my match fitness back now.

“I’ve been off crutches for the past three weeks and I’ve started upping the training this week with a running and a kicking session.

“Tomorrow will be my first full skills session with the lads, which I’m looking forward to.

“It feels great to get out of the physio’s room and onto the field but I’m not going to rush back if I’m not one 100 per cent right.”

Gale had emerged as the creative fulcrum for Mick Potter’s side with some impressive displays during pre-season and in the opening rounds of Super League.

The England Knights scrum half said: “I came to Bradford during the off-season and it was all going well.

“The Catalan game was a tough start but I thought the win at Castleford was a great team performance.

“I was learning my role, learning to lead the team around the field, but obviously I got the injury early on in the Wigan game.

“That was very frustrating but hopefully I can now get back on the horse and get back rallying the team.”

Gale’s imminent return will come as a timely boost to the Bulls, with fellow half-back Jarrod Sammut sidelined for the next two months at least with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

Gale should therefore line up alongside Ben Jeffries in the halves, a prospect he is relishing.

“It’s been so frustrating with injuries at Bradford this season,” said 23-year-old Gale.

“Jarrod will now miss the next few weeks but Ben Jeffries has done brilliantly. He’s controlling the team really well and I can’t wait to get back playing alongside him.

“I like playing with Ben and he’s versatile too. He’s got a good kicking and running game.”

Although Gale has been reduced to the sidelines for the best part of two months, he has fully played his part in various fundraising activities in the Quest for Survival campaign.

He said: “I’ve only been at Bradford for a short period of time but the spirit at the club – the fans, the players and the coaching staff – is unbelievable and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Phil Joseph, meanwhile, has been told he does not require an operation on the injury he sustained to his left ankle against Leeds but he will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks.

Tomorrow’s scheduled Under-20s clash with Huddersfield at Odsal has been postponed due to drainage problems, with the Bulls keen to protect the surface ahead of Sunday’s Super League encounter, which will be refereed by Frenchman Thierry Alibert.