Jamie Foster has become the first player to sign fresh terms with the Bulls after being handed a new two-year deal which keeps him at the club until the end of 2015.

The 22-year-old winger has proved a success since coach Francis Cummins recruited him from St Helens on a one-year contract during the off-season.

He is currently sidelined after sustaining a ruptured pectoral muscle during the Tetley’s Challenge Cup victory at Rochdale on April 21 but is hoping to be back in action next month.

A number of Cummins’ squad are out of contract at the end of the year and a delighted Foster said: “It’s a massive confidence boost for me to get this new contract.

“Obviously I came here on a 12-month deal and it was a case of backing myself and I knew the commitments and sacrifices that I had to make.

“It is very rewarding that Franny has put me to the front of the queue and Bradford have been brilliant with me since I first came here.

“The deal was very easy to agree and I was quick to sign on the dotted line. I’m just really excited about what the future holds now.

“We know it’s a building process here at Bradford to challenge the big clubs again but we’re all hungry for it.

“I think if you have the hunger then you’re halfway there already.”

There were initial fears that Foster could be missing for up to four months but he was recently told by leading sports surgeon Lennard Funk in Manchester that he does not require surgery on his left shoulder.

He has instead embarked on an intense rehabilitation programme with Bulls physio Dan Ramsden and head of strength and conditioning Tom Clough, encouraging hopes he will be fit for action next month.

Foster added: “Hopefully it will be no longer than three weeks now.

“I got told it would be 16 weeks at first and was devastated but Lennard Funk is the best in the business and has told me that hopefully I’ll be good to go sometime next month.

“I was scheduled to see him in three weeks’ time but I’m back up to full running outside and lifting weights in the gym, so my next appointment with him should be within the next ten to 14 days.

“Hopefully I’ll then get the green light to start playing again.

“I’m doing so much now and it’s feeling very good.”

Bulls coach Cummins said: “Jamie has improved since he’s been here and how he approaches the game.

“He said himself that he was probably a bit shocked with how hard the pre-season training was but he got going and did some good things out on the field.

“I wanted him to stay and he’s agreed, so we’re really pleased.”

Cummins is speaking to several more players about next season, with Chev Walker understood to be close to agreeing a new deal.

The Bradford coach added: “We’re very close with a good handful of players.”

Bulls owner Omar Khan said: “I am delighted that Jamie has pledged his future to us.

“He is one of our most popular players and a massive asset to the team with his tremendous goal kicking.

“The fact that he was so keen to extend his contract shows the faith he has that the club is moving forward in the right way.

“We will be announcing many more signings over the coming weeks as we look get the club back where it belongs.”

Manase Manuokafoa underwent an operation to repair his fractured thumb yesterday and Jarrod Sammut is set to replace the injured Brett Kearney (groin) at Salford on Friday.

James Donaldson is set to be passed fit despite being knocked out cold by a vicious late hit from London prop Antonio Kaufusi in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup defeat.

Cummins added: “It was a blatant forearm smash and I’m concerned that when the game isn’t on television that things get missed or maybe the referee can’t see.

“But the touch judges need to help because there were a few nasty incidents over the weekend – it was almost like watching the game in the 1970s again.”

Kaufusi, who missed only one match in his first season in Super League and has played in all 16 so far this year, admitted a reckless high tackle on Donaldson.

He was last night handed a two-match ban and so will miss Saturday's home game against Super League leaders Wigan and the opening game of the Magic Weekend in Manchester against Catalan Dragons a week later.