Nightingale races clock for Anzac game

Dragons winger Jason Nightingale is racing the clock to prove his fitness and make a surprise return for Saturday’s Anzac clash against Sydney Roosters.

Nightingale was scheduled to return from a foot injury in round nine against South Sydney on May 11, which would allow him extra time with next week’s bye.

He managed to complete a full training session with the squad on Friday morning and appeared to be running and jumping freely.

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor said afterwards that Nightingale would be an outside chance of a late call-up to the starting 17 on Saturday.

‘‘Jason Nightingale ran around today as well, he's unlikely but we'll see how he pulls up in the morning,’’ McGregor said.

An early return would also enhance Nightingale’s chances of representing New Zealand when the Kiwis take on Australia in a standalone Test next Friday.

Nightingale would be a certainty to pull on his national jumper and line up on the wing of Stephen Kearney’s team if he can prove his fitness.

He won’t be lining up alongside fellow Kiwi and Dragons teammate Benji Marshall for the Test, however, after Kearney ruled a line through the latter earlier this week.

Kearney revealed Marshall was a fair way down the list of contenders to play in the halves for New Zealand.

Marshall, 30, has represented his country 25 times and captained New Zealand for 20 of those games, but hasn’t pulled on the jersey since 2012.

He has hit a purple patch of form for the Dragons in the past couple of weeks, in particular during the team’s big win over Canterbury a fortnight ago during which he set up two of the five tries and dominated the game.

McGregor admits he was baffled by Kearney’s decision not to consider Marshall for a Test jumper.

‘‘That's sad to be totally honest,’’ McGregor said.

‘‘When a player is playing well, and the club that he's running around for, along with Gareth (Widdop) who is playing well, you like to think they are a chance of playing rep football.

‘‘Bejni's certainly played there and played at high levels in the past; he's captained his country.

‘‘It's a shame that the coach has come out early and said that.’’

McGregor hadn’t spoken to Marshall about Kearney’s comments and wasn’t prepared to speculate on how the star halfback was taking the news that his Test career may be in jeopardy.

Nightingale and utility back Josh Dugan are considered the Dragons’ only other two chances of lining up in next week’s Test, but neither have been confirmed starters.