US international Cory Gibbs says his troublesome knee has healed at last and that he is close to making his long-delayed debut for Charlton Athletic.

The Florida-born defender, who has 19 caps for the US National Team, has yet to make a first team appearance for the Addicks, whom he joined in May 2006 after spells with ADO Den Haag, FC Dallas, Feyenoord and St. Pauli.

"The recovery is going well," Gibbs told American Soccer Daily. "The knee feels good."

"I had a follow-up scan done two weeks ago and the scan showed that it is healed. I've spoken to the gaffer and I plan on taking the first month out, and getting in about three reserve games for fitness to lead me into the first team."

Gibbs had one preseason outing South-East Londoners, the second half of a 2-0 victory over Welling United on July 11th - but has not played competitively for 15 months.

Only days after signing for then-Premier League side Charlton, cartilage in Gibbs' right knee swelled up following a friendly between the US and Morocco in Nashville, an injury which forced him to step out of World Cup 2006 and the entire 2006/07 Premiership season.

"I have been out for a while," he agreed. "I just came back and played my first game, so I am just trying to regain my fitness. It is all about maintaining what I have been doing."

"Of course, there is a difference between reserve games and being up to Championship games, to first-team quality, but for now everything's alright so we'll see how it goes."

Charlton's reserve fixture list would mean a possible return to first team contention for Gibbs away at Wolverhampton on October 20th. The first team kicks off their campaign to return to the Premier League at home to Scunthorpe United on Saturday.