Richard Horne had feared he would not play rugby again

Hull FC have received a massive boost with the news that Richard Horne can resume playing after a serious neck injury that threatened his career.

The Great Britain international half-back has been told by his doctors that he can start training again.

The 27-year-old told BBC Radio Humberside: "I'm shocked that I've been given the all-clear.

"I had it in my head that I was going down there to have an operation and it is great that I can play again."

Horne has admitted that he harboured fears that he would never play again, after picking up the injury against Bradford Bulls in April.

You're probably looking at next season and because of being off for three months I've lost a lot of weight Hull FC half-back Richard Horne

"They told me that from the off that there could be a possibility that I couldn't play again. But everything came back positive after having my neck in a brace for 12 weeks so it was all about the specialist having a look at it and giving me the all-clear, which he did."

Horne, who made his debut for the club as a 16-year-old, has been talking about his time on the sidelines.

"It's been frustrating to have to wait so long and I wasn't able to do anything whilst I was in the neck brace and I was literally sitting about watching training and watching the season get away from us."

Despite been given the go-ahead to play again, Horne does not think he will play again this season.

"You're probably looking at next season and because of being off for three months I've lost a lot of weight so it's all about getting myself fit now."

That means the Black & Whites can forget about calling upon his services for the Challenge Cup final against St Helens at Wembley at the end of this month.

"In my head that's a long way away for me. It's all about getting myself physically right."