It’s now down to weeks, as opposed to months.

Nathan Green’s planned return to the Red Deer Rebels’ active roster is drawing closer. The 20-year-old centre, who endured a serious leg injury when he was pinned under a linesman at the conclusion of a Nov. 22 game at Medicine Hat and underwent surgery a few days later, was scheduled to have the screws removed from the bone today.

“So it will probably be at least one or two weeks before I can start skating, then however long it takes for me to get back into game shape,” the Winnipeg native said Monday.

Green suffered a broken fibula — the small bone located on the lateral side of the tibia — near his left knee, and also tore a ligament in the front of his ankle.

The broken fibula displaced his ankle bone, so screws were inserted for stabilization purposes when he had surgery.

Green has already spent time on the stationary bike, albeit with low tension.

Starting today, he’ll have full motion of the leg and will begin cardio workouts.

He’s been out of commission for two and a half months and counting, but Green admitted it seems longer.

“Time goes really slow,” he said.

“There’s not a whole lot I could do in the early stages, I pretty much just sat at home and watched TV. Eventually I could come to the rink and watch practices, but that’s difficult as well because you know you can’t help the team.”

While he’s been limited to the role of spectator, Green has seen the Rebels progress to the point where the club — heading into tonight’s 7 p.m. clash with the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes — sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, albeit only four points clear of the final playoff spot — currently held by the Moose Jaw Warriors — in the Eastern Conference.

“Everyone is happy with how our guys are playing, but we know that no playoff spot is set in stone yet,” he said.

“It’s still going to be a long battle, maybe right to the final game of the season, but I think as far as chemistry and how team is doing overall . . . things are going as planned, kind of what we were expecting at the start of the season.”

Green, acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings last summer, will be a welcome addition to the Rebels’ lineup. A top-six forward, he scored nine goals and accumulated 22 points in 25 games prior to his injury.

He’s guessing when attempting to pinpoint the exact date of his return, but late February or early March looks realistic.

“I could get range of motion in my foot and get my cardio back and the strength in my leg back really quickly,” he said. “Then again, it might take a while. But I’m hoping it’s only going to be three or four weeks, tops, until I get back.”

If the Rebels can stay among the top eight teams in the conference, Green should be back to his old form in time for the playoffs.

“That’s what I’m expecting, to be ready for the playoffs,” he said. “Obviously I want to get a couple of game in before the playoffs because I’m sure that at least my first game back will be a little shaky after being out for so long.

“What we’re shooting for right now is hopefully a few games before the playoffs.”

gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com