by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Sheffield Wednesday defender Frank Simek returned to action from nine months on the sideline with 45 Reserve team minutes in Tuesday's League Cup rout of Bradford, and the club are hoping the U.S. international will be fully back by the end of the month.

The St. Louis native suffered ankle ligament damage last December, and the Owls medical staff was encouraged by his latest step on the road to recovery.

"He came through it okay," Wednesday press officer Colin Wood told Soccer365 on Wednesday. "It's just about building his fitness up. Hopefully, he's not too far away."

"Due to the length of his time out, it's hard to set an exact time frame on (his first team return) - hopefully, by the end of the month."

Added Wood, "The next reserve game, I think he'll have a little longer (on the field) and try to push (the ankle) a little more."

The Owls second side still has two games remaining in October, on the 14th and 29th. Meanwhile, the senior crew return to league play with a home derby against Sheffield United on the 19th.

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners.

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