KEVIN Keegan says that he hopes James Milner will report back for pre-season training free of the injury problems which kept him sidelined for the last two months of the campaign.

The 22-year-old had been set to return to the first-team picture for Sunday's final match at Everton but suffered a slight setback in training last week.

Before that, Milner had appeared in every league game of the season until he injured his foot during the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool in early March.

And, despite pushing himself all of the way in a bid to return before the end of the campaign, the decision was taken not to risk the long-term fitness of the young winger.

"He got right back to being ready to play but when he was shooting last week he felt a slight twinge," explained KK.

"There is a slight problem with his ankle and he's had an injection.

"He missed the Everton game because of that but that was only so we can have another good look.

"We will assess it before he goes off on holiday so that he does not come back for pre-season with the same problem.

"We have to look at the long-term picture with people like James."