Garcia on the road to fitness

Hull winger Richard Garcia is closing in on a return to first-team action following knee surgery at the end of December.The 29-year-old Australia international, who missed out on his country's run to the final of the Asia Cup in January, has this week rejoined the Tigers' first-team squad for full training.Garcia requires games with Hull's reserves to build up his match fitness and faces a fight to regain his place in Nigel Pearson's starting line-up following the arrival of Aaron Mclean, Matty Fryatt and Tijani Belaid during his time on the sidelines.Meanwhile, goalkeeper Vito Mannone is expected to end his injury lay-off at Nottingham Forest on Saturday as Hull look to set a new club record of 13 away league matches without defeat.The Tigers' last defeat on the road was a 4-0 reverse at Burnley in September and Mannone, on loan from Arsenal, is hoping to make his first start since sustaining a thigh injury in the home draw with Reading at the end of December.