Pryce has been out since injuring his knee in February
Hull FC playmaker Will Pryce(Image: SW PIX)
Steve McNamara expects to see Will Pryce return to full training with the rest of his Hull FC teammates before the end of the month.
Pryce has been ruled out since rupturing his ACL in a clash against Wigan Warriors last February, with the playmaker missing the remainder of the season as a result.
He has been working hard to build up his strength during his long and arduous recovery period, though, and that has extended into the off-season, too.
He posted on social media last month to declare that he had started running again and nine months on from hitting the deck at the Brick Community Stadium, Pryce is now on the verge of making a full return to training.
“I’ll say physically, he’s in outstanding shape,” McNamara said on Pryce. “He spent the first week this week with the physical performance staff so he’s not joined in with the team on the field but off the field in terms of a lot of the testing and the metrics, he’s been fully involved in all of that and he’s up there, he’s as fit and strong as anybody at this club.
“He’s in great shape, I will say. He’s been in the programme with Jimmy McDaniel for a period of time now and in terms of his knee, his knee is coming on great.
“I’m expecting him to be back on the field with us either next week or the week after doing some elements of that, and then within two or three weeks I think he’ll be back in full training. But physically, he is in incredible shape to be honest.”
On the pressure Pryce might be under to perform next season after two injury hit years at the MKM Stadium, the head coach added: “Clearly any player hates being injured, any player hates not playing and I see the competitive streak in him already from what I’ve seen in training over these first four days.
“I’m sure he’ll be fully aware of [the importance of his season ahead], but at the same time he can’t look back now in terms of what’s happened before.
“We’ve had the opportunity now with his knee injury to obviously work on his knee but on other aspects of his body as well. We’re not saying no one is going to get injured at this club again. We’d be stupid to say that, of course we’re going to get injuries, but in terms of the staff around those players now to try and prevent that, and if they do get injury, we can get them back as quickly as possible.
“We’ve got a great group and Will is in and amongst that, he’s been part of the programme for a few months now and he’s reaping the benefits.”