Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle is hopeful that Lee Chung-Yong will return to action this season despite initial fears that he would miss the entire campaign.

The winger suffered a double fracture in his right leg during the Wanderers' pre-season match against Newport County, causing speculation that the 23-year-old could miss the season.

Despite the original setback, Coyle has confirmed that the South Korea international is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.

"At this moment in time, he's doing better than I would have envisaged," Coyle told the Bolton News.

"I don't want to get ahead of myself but I don't think it will be as bad as we first thought - i.e. the whole season - but what part of it he comes back is still very much up in the air.

"We could get him back March, maybe, but he's certainly doing well."

The winger has been at the Reebok for two years.