RICARDO Fuller is set to meet his new season return target, Preston boss Craig Brown predicted today.

The 23-year-old striker underwent a make-or-break knee operation in the USA at the start of the year.

The operation became a necessity after the Jamaican ruptured 80 per cent of his cruciate ligament during North End's visit to Coventry City in November.

The surgeon who carried out the operation, Dr Richard Steadman, performed similar operations on Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane among others.

All have recovered successfully - and Jamaican international Fuller, who netted 11 goals before being injured, is set to do the same.

Brown said: "I am pleased to say that Ricardo is making good progress and the signs are positive for a complete recovery for next season's campaign."

Brown is equally as confident that the Deepdale surgery will remain relatively free of injuries during the end of season run in, which includes six matches in 17 days during April.

Apart from Fuller, keeper Jonathan Gould, injured against Derby, Brian O'Neil, who collected a groin strain at Watford, and fringe players Mark Wright and Joe O'Neill were the only big injury worries before Tuesday's game.

But Michael Jackson has since been added to that list after picking up a nerve problem in his back, which affects his hamstring according to Brown.

Both O'Neil and Gould could be in contention for a recall ahead of Saturday's big game at home to league-leaders Portsmouth, although Gould will be up against David Lucas for the goal-keeping berth. Lucas was singled out for praise by Brown following the 5-0 demolition of Walsall midweek.

A safe pair of hands will be essential for the visit of Pompey, a side with a +41 goal difference. With 79 points from 37 games, only second placed Leicester have a real chance of stealing the Division One crown from them.

But Preston gave them a good run for their money back in October, losing 2-3.

Tuesday's win against Walsall inevitably led to talk about a late push of the play-offs as Preston climbed to 11th, nine points off sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.

But Brown said: "We will see where we are after Saturday, but I think the play-offs are unrealistic, we just want to finish as high as we can and get the team functioning properly and make sure there is competition for places for next season."

Brown also heaped praise on Dickson Etuhu, who bagged the second goal on Tuesday.

He said: "Etuhu's goal was terrific, if that had been Thierry Henry they would have been talking about it for a long time, it was one touch with one foot and then a spin and volley with the other."

The big win came in the same week which marked a year since David Moyes' departure from Deepdale. Despite North End's poor run over Christmas, at the 35 game mark, they were only three points adrift of last season's total at the same point - although last season also proved to be an anticlimax compared to the previous year.

But chairman Derek Shaw said: "After a lot of upheaval over the last 12 months and changes at the club, our position is very pleasing.

"Although it is disappointing we are not in a play-off spot, or higher, I personally think that Craig and the management staff and all the players, with the exception of the Christmas period, have a done a good job for all us supporters."