MIDFIELDER Gary Speed has handed Newcastle and Wales boss Mark Hughes a boost by returning to light training just a week after undergoing surgery.

The 33-year-old Wales skipper had an operation on a hernia on New Year's Eve after breaking down during the 2-1 victory over Tottenham two days earlier.

Manager Sir Bobby Robson immediately resigned himself with having to do without one of his most important players for six weeks.

However, Speed, who was as dismayed as anyone about the Magpies slump out of the FA Cup at Wolves on Sunday, has taken the first steps on the road to recovery.

He has now set his sights on being back by the time the Champions League programme reopens in the middle of next month.

That could mean he is being available when Wales take on Bosnia at the Millennium Stadium on February 12. "The operation was a week ago and I'm still a bit sore," he said.

"But I have already started a bit of walking and jogging and working on the bike.

"They say that after a hernia operation you need six weeks to get back into it all. But, as far as I am concerned, that's the longest limit."