Jordon Forster is ready to step up his return from a broken foot today as he turns out for Hibernian's under-20 side against their Hamilton counterparts.

The 21-year-old has not featured for the club since a 0-0 stalemate against Dumbarton in October after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured metatarsal picked up in a freak training ground accident.

However, the big defender returned to full training last week and head coach Alan Stubbs is keen to see him get some match practice ahead of a packed festive schedule.

Forster is expected to line up against Accies at Ainslie Park this afternoon and, assuming he emerges unscathed, could be in contention for the mouth-watering visit of Rangers at the end of the month and the New Year derby against Hearts on January 3.

Forster said: "I'm happy to say that I'm now back in training and I'm feeling good and strong. The manager may want me to play a couple of under-20 games in order to get properly back up to speed.

"We'll have to wait and see, but I've spoken with the fitness and medical team and hopefully I'll get some game-time with the under-20s. If there are no hiccups and I'll be back with the first team as soon as possible."