FLYING winger Ed Bastick is on the comeback trail for Portland United after undergoing an operation on a hernia.

The pacey attacking threat was ruled out of action at the start of November having been plagued by the injury for a number of weeks.

Boss Gary Bailey admitted as the time of announcing the injury that “we have to bite the bullet and get these things sorted” when asked about Bastick going under the knife.

But now the winger’s surgery is complete, having carried it out during the middle of December, Bailey insists Bastick will be “like having a new signing” when he eventually makes his return.

Asked for an update on Bastick’s surgery, the Blues’ boss told Echosport: “It went really well and as planned. His recovery period is four weeks of complete rest and then building it back up for a couple of weeks.

“We are looking at the end of January or the beginning of February to have him back.”

He added: “We are not going to push him, it is down to Ed. It will be a slow steady build-up back to fitness, but Ed is a fit lad. He keeps himself in good shape and getting his physical fitness back won’t take him long at all.

“Once he is back and he is fit it will be like having a new signing for the second half of the season.”

Alex Halloran was also back on the bench for the Blues against Hamworthy United last time out, after recovering from an ankle injury.

Commenting on the midfielder’s progress, Bailey added: “If he was really needed he probably could have played (against Hamworthy).

"He hadn’t trained since he did it against Swanage so it was a case of not wanting to take any risks. Hopefully, by the time Tuesday (an away trip Lymington Town) comes around he will be close to being in contention.”