ALAN Tate is aiming to make a first-team return by the end of the month.

The Swansea City defender has been out since August after breaking his leg in a freak golf buggy accident.

Tate made his comeback for the reserves in a friendly against Hereford seven weeks ago and has since featured twice more for the second string.

He should also be involved when Alan Curtis’s side visit Wolves today.

The defender admitted he is not yet ready for a first-team return, but hopes to be fully fit before Swansea visit Wigan Athletic on March 3.

“My leg’s got to be 100 per cent and it’s not 100 per cent at the minute,” said Tate. “I’ve got through a few 90 minutes with the reserves, but I wasn’t sailing through games and feeling ready, I was struggling.

“It’s better than expected, it’s just a case of getting over the last bit and getting back to normal.

“We’ve said we’ll wait until the end of the month to get everything up and running and we’ll take it from there.” Swansea’s vice-captain led the side out for their Premier League bow at Manchester City in the absence of the injured Garry Monk, but he has not tasted the top flight since.

He made another senior appearance at Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup before breaking his leg at Gower Golf Club at the end of August.

“The gaffer said he would put me on the bench for the Bolton game, but I knew I wasn’t ready,” said the 29-year-old.

“I’ll get myself fit, then I’ve got to try to get a place on the bench and work my way up from there.

“After the Arsenal game, when I knew everything wasn’t up to scratch, it was a case of the manager pulling me in and telling me he wants me up to speed.

“I’ve got this month to get ready and then hopefully I’ll come back for the last two months of the season.”

Tate has been forced to watch from the sidelines as Swansea adapted well to life in the top flight.

After being released from hospital, at first he could do little more than make occasional trips to an oxygen chamber in a bid to speed up the healing process.

“If I’d broken my leg playing football it could have been worse than that,” Tate added.

“It might not have been a clean break and I might have needed an operation so there are loads of things that could have gone wrong.

“Now it’s about getting fit, getting the bone healed properly and the muscle up to scratch.

“The injury hasn’t affected me at all really.

“What’s done is done and I can’t do anything about it.

“I’ve enjoyed watching the lads and I’m glad they’re doing well, but on the other hand I want to be involved.

“But it was my own fault and I can live with it.”