Cardiff City duo Callum Paterson and Rhys Healey look set to hand manager Neil Warnock a double fitness boost by returning from injury earlier than scheduled.

And the Cardiff boss has revealed that winger Junior Hoilett is set to be available for Cardiff's opening Championship clash with Burton at the Pirelli Stadium on August 5 having returned from international duty on Sunday.

Paterson has been sidelined since December with the knee injury he suffered during his time at Hearts while Healey was ruled out for at least nine months through the double knee ligament injury he sustained in the 5-0 win over Rotherham in February.

But Warnock has stated that Paterson's impressive attitude during his rehabilitation process could see him return to action in September rather than October while Healey has posted a message on his official Twitter account stating that he is already running on a treadmill.

Discussing Scottish full-back Paterson's road to recovery, Warnock said: "He's doing ever so well at the minute but he'll still probably be (out until) September.

"But he's worth waiting for I think, somebody that you can get on that sort of compensation, it's a no-brainer really and it'll be nice to have him available."

Lee Peltier is set to get the nod at right-back for the opening stages of the new season in Paterson's absence while Wales international Jazz Richards can also fill the same position.

And as far as striker Healey is concerned, he has revealed that his recovery has stepped up another notch this week.

In a post on his official Twitter account, the 22-year-old wrote: "Good first run on the alter G."

The AlterG - an anti-gravity treadmill - helps players to recover from injuries by reducing their bodyweight in an isolated chamber, reducing the stress put on their legs when running.

And it seems Healey's hard work behind the scenes could see him return to action later this year after it was first feared he may not be available until the early stages of 2018.

(Image: Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Elsewhere, Hoilett is set to return to training at Cardiff's Vale Resort base on Thursday morning having been granted additional time off after starring for Canada in their run to the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup in the US.

The winger scored a stunner in his side's last eight encounter with Jamaica, but was unable to prevent his side suffering a 2-1 defeat that ended Canada's progress in the competition.

"I think there's a few internationals that have played games, we've got Junior Hoilett coming back not till this Thursday," added the Cardiff boss.

"He played his last game last weekend and was unlucky to lose to Jamaica.

"He didn't come back till last Sunday so he's got to have a week off.

"I wanted to take him to Cornwall but that didn't materialise so I've told him to come back on Thursday.

"I don't know where they come from these competitions. I know they're trying to change the Africa Cup of Nations in a few years time and it's not before time really.

"It's quite ludicrous that European players are called up until nearly August time, it's scandalous quite honestly. (Aron) Gunnarsson has played late in the season as did some of the other lads as well as Jazz.

"It just throws you out a little bit because you loathe to work them as hard as you possibly could do because they've been in training.

"You know when they're in training with their international teams, if they're not playing, they may not do as much as they would do with their club side so it's a matter of getting the balance and topping up the fitness levels."