ANDREW CROFTS believes he is “not too far away” from full fitness after recovering from a second major knee injury.

But the Albion midfielder is not putting a timetable on his potential return to Championship action.

Crofts successfully played the first 45 minutes, as planned, for Albion’s development squad as they lost 2-1 in a friendly to the Nike Academy yesterday.

He is eyeing a run out in the under-21s’ league opener at Fulham next Friday and believes a return to Chris Hughton’s squad is getting close.

Crofts told The Argus: “I don’t want to put a timescale on it but playing a game (yesterday) and playing a few more games, I’m not going to be too far away.

“It will obviously be in the near future. It was always the plan to get 45 minutes under the belt and keep building that up, gradually getting to 90. I’ve now tested the knee in difficult situations so it is all about just getting game time now.”

He added: “l’m seeing my surgeon next Thursday and hopefully that will be the last time.

“There’s a game at Fulham on the Friday so I’ll keep looking at different fixtures, keep working hard and I’ll know when I’m ready.

“I’ve worked on all different aspects of twisting, turning, jumping, landing, contact – all things that the game provides. But some things you can’t replicate until you play a match.”

Albion have strength in depth in central midfield but are still in need of attacking flair out wide.

They have again been linked with Blackburn winger Ben Marshall although Rovers’ financial position was yesterday strengthened by the £6 million sale of target man Rudy Gestede to Aston Villa.