Less than four months after suffering one of the most sickening injuries seen on a football field, Newcastle Knights forward Cameron Ciraldo is on the verge of a remarkable return to NRL action.

Ciraldo, who broke his fibula in four places and dislocated his ankle during the round two clash with Cronulla after his foot became trapped underneath a ruck, said he hopes to be cleared to play again before the end of the season.

The sight of the 24-year-old's horribly disfigured right leg forced players from both sides to look away as he lay stricken on the Toyota Stadium pitch and Ciraldo says he has no intention of viewing footage of the incident.

"A few people have told me it is on YouTube but I don't plan on watching it, I might have a look when I have finished playing, but I just want to put it behind me, and try not to think about it," Ciraldo told AAP.

After undergoing a punishing rehabilitation Ciraldo said the thought of helping the Knights make a push for the NRL finals kept him going on those lonely days in the gym.

"It's been pretty hard rehab and I have been getting flogged by the physios," he said.

"I have spent hours running in the pool and working with leg weights and hopefully the surgeon will give me the all clear to start training in the next week or so."

Ciraldo said he never had any doubt he would return, but admitted he will be apprehensive about going in for his first tackle.

"It is going to be very difficult to start with and I have spoken to the rehab guys about it and a few people who have had major injuries and they have all said that it will be tough but the relief when you come through it is great," he said.

Knights physio Adrian Brough, who has overseen Ciraldo's rehabilitation, said the injury was the worst he's seen, but praised the attitude of the former Cronulla junior.

"The surgeon did a wonderful job on Cam but you have to give credit to the work he has done to get this far, he is not there yet, but we are really pleased with his progress," Brough told AAP.

"There is a danger with some cases where you get setbacks, either by trying too much too soon or not doing enough, but his recovery has gone really well."

Brough said the mental side of a long rehab can often be the worst part for a player and admitted Ciraldo had days where things got him down.

"I always say to players that there will be a time in the middle of rehab where it is dark. At first they start off working real hard to get back and then things can get on top of them midway through it," he said.

"Cam has got through that stage and after seeing the surgeon last week he is now seeing light at the end of the tunnel and we are delighted for him.

"He is not there yet, but his recovery has been fantastic and a lot quicker than we anticipated."

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