NFL

Giants’ Nicks vows he won’t miss time

The Super Bowl-winning head coach and one of the players who led the charge to another NFL championship had a conversation this past Sunday, when the star player made a promise everyone associated with the Giants deeply hopes becomes reality.

The promise, from Hakeem Nicks to Tom Coughlin: Count me in for training camp.

If that vow is kept, it will defy medical opinion.

Nicks underwent surgery Friday in Charlotte, N.C., as a screw was inserted into his right foot to help hasten the healing process in the fifth metatarsal bone he fractured a day earlier. Two days after surgery, Coughlin certainly liked what he heard from Nicks, who has averaged 78 catches, 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns the past two seasons.

“He was resting comfortably Sunday night and of course he’s very optimistic. ‘I’ll be back for training camp’ were his final words,’’ Coughlin said yesterday at the Giants Foundation golf outing at Westchester Country Club, which raises money for youth-related charities in the tri-state area. “I said OK, I would accept it if it was maybe a day or two after the start of camp, that’d be fine.’’

The Giants have put a timetable of 12 weeks for Nicks to return, which would put him back on the field the third week of August, after training camp wraps up at the University at Albany. Camp runs from July 26 to Aug. 14, but the Giants have preseason games Aug. 24 and 29, and their first regular-season game, against the Cowboys, is not until Sept. 5. If all goes according to schedule, Nicks should make it back for the opener and perhaps might even sneak his way into a preseason game to test his foot and shake off the rust.

“He told me he’s pretty much pain free,’’ Coughlin said. “He’s going to do everything in his power to get back. He had an outstanding spring and he had taken real responsibility and he had been a real help to the young guys. It was really unfortunate but we’ll move on and he’ll be back, and we hope [the foot] will be stronger than ever because of putting the screw in there.’’

Receiver Domenik Hixon knows all about coming back from a fractured fifth metatarsal, as he experienced that injury in 2006 while training for the NFL Scouting Combine.

“It takes about three months or so,’’ Hixon said, confirming the Giants’ initial timeframe. “It’s not really the healing part, it’s getting back into shape and doing all that. [Nicks] stays in shape so that won’t be a problem.’’

Cornerback Prince Amukamara fractured his fifth metatarsal as a rookie last summer in his second training camp practice and did not play again for 15 weeks. He said he didn’t feel 100 percent until the end of the season, and immediately after the Super Bowl he had an injection procedure to strengthen his surgically-repaired foot. He ran yesterday for the first time on grass.

“It feels great,’’ Amukamara said. “Things are looking good right now.’’

Hixon, who has missed the past two seasons with knee injuries, will be one of the receivers to get increased work this summer while Nicks is on the mend. Asked if the team will look to add a veteran receiver, Coughlin indicated no, saying, “Look for the next Victor Cruz, how’s that one?’’

One veteran currently out of work, Plaxico Burress, is on the market, but Coughlin shook his head and said “No’’ when asked about a possible reunion.

He’s more concerned with getting Nicks back.

“With [Nicks’] competitive heart,’’ Coughlin said, “there’s no question about him getting himself ready to play.’’