Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has revealed that he is optimistic that he will be able to resume his playing career in the near future.

The 26-year-old suffered a fractured skull as a result of a collision with Chelsea's Gary Cahill in the Tigers' 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge in January.

Mason suffered bleeding on the brain in the incident and was unable to walk for several months afterwards, but is now back on his feet and waiting for the go-ahead from doctors before he returns to action.

"I am just waiting for my skull to fuse together," he told Sky Sports News. "I had a CT scan a month ago and it isn't quite there yet. We are going to repeat that scan in the near future and measure the rate of healing and go from there.

"Physically I am ready to go back in when it is safe and sensible. It's just a case of a bone healing now, there's no brain damage or anything like that. I am in a positive way.

"I feel fine, I wouldn't put myself in a position that could possibly be dangerous. I am just being patient, respecting my body and letting it heal.

"It was a dangerous collision but credit to the medical team that was there and acted so quickly that I am here now and in a physical condition to return to playing once the skull has healed."

Since his injury, Mason's side have been relegated to the Championship and also have a new manager in the form of Leonid Slutsky.