This article is part of Football FanCast's Injury News series, which considers the impact of the latest updates on players' fitness.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could soon call on their colossus centre-back Willy Boly after club captain Conor Coady offered a hugely positive update on the 28-year-old.

What's the word?

As one of Nuno Santo's favourite options in defence, Boly has played 16 matches in all competitions, missing just one match through suspension before picking up what appeared to be a very severe injury.

The Frenchman fractured his fibula in training and had surgery at the end of October.

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An expected timeframe for his return was February at the very earliest but he was seen at Molineux over the weekend without a protective boot.

Now Coady's comments only add further encouragement - speaking to the Express & Star, he said:

"He is doing fantastic, he really is. He works so hard to get himself back fit. He works long days and he is now walking.

"I’m not a physio but he looks like he is ahead of schedule.

"His ankle looks brilliant so hopefully, everyone has their fingers crossed that he will be back as soon as possible."

January boost?

It could come as a very timely boost given Nuno's struggles to name a settled defence since his injury. It's at the point where two midfielders, Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker, have had to fill in as he clearly cannot trust Jesus Vallejo or any of the youth prospects yet.

Birmingham Live revealed that the club were going to try and sign a centre-back in January and that was before Boly's injury, so there is even more pressure on them to find the right man next month.

However, the burden can be severely reduced if the 28-year-old is closer to a return than expected.

Initially, it was thought he'd be out until the end of January/February so this would be incredibly timely both from a financial and playing perspective.

And while it is clear that Wolves need an addition at centre-back next month, Boly's return could give them more time to consider the correct choice, meaning they can avoid being panicked into the first deal on the table or risk overspending as a result.

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