Player of the year Andy Lynch is ready to end his agonising six-month lay-off and hand Bulls the biggest of lifts.

The England prop has not featured since scoring a try in last year’s Super League play-off exit against Wigan.

He underwent neck surgery before Christmas which forced him to miss the opening three games of the new campaign.

Bradford have yet to pick up a win in his absence but powerhouse Lynch is back for Sunday’s clash with in-form Hull FC.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: “I’m fit and ready to go. I saw the specialist last week and he was very happy with the x-rays.

“Everything’s fused together well and I’m okay to play again. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been hard watching the lads.

“It’s been three months since the op and hard enough watching them train but now, having had to watch them play as well, it’s been really tough.

“I can’t wait to get started again and it’ll be great to get back out there. It feels like ages.”

Boss Steve McNamara will be delighted to see one of his most influential performers back in the fray, especially given his side’s sluggish start to the year.

Lynch’s drive and strength in the middle will undoubtedly bolster the struggling team, who were on the end of a 44-10 thrashing at Wigan last Saturday.

He has only been in full training for the last fortnight though and may take some time getting back up to maximum speed.

But Lynch is not worried about being thrown straight into the firing line and said: “There’s only one way of doing it.

“There’s only so much fitness you can get through training. You have to play games to get match fit and the more I get the better.

“I’ve done it before, coming straight in, and it’s not a problem. It’s always hard getting your timing and things like that right but I’m sure that’ll come.

“I’m looking forward to playing with these new signings that we’ve made this year as well as the lads from last.”

Hull, meanwhile, have emerged as surprise early challengers with a 100 per cent record so far and Lynch, 29, said: “They are playing with a lot of confidence.

“Hull have some good players in their team and it shows with them being four from four.

“But we must pick our own game up. We’ve got to do the little things right, complete our sets and show some urgency. That will go a long way to improving us and that’s the aim.”