Nebraska starting center Kurt Mann has “turned the corner” in his battle with mononucleosis and might return to practice as soon as next week, his father said Monday.

Mann, a senior from Grand Island, has missed the Huskers’ past two games and last week was hospitalized for four days. He left the hospital Friday, said Kent Mann.

“I can tell you that he’s looking a lot better than he did a week ago,” Kent Mann said. “I really feel he’s turned the corner. He’s champing at the bit right now, wanting to see when he can get back to practice.”

A 6-foot-4, 290-pound player, Mann likely won’t be ready in time for Nebraska’s game against Troy on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Husker coach Bill Callahan said.

However, Mann hopes to be back in the fold Sept. 30 when 23rd-ranked Nebraska opens Big 12 Conference play against Kansas at Memorial Stadium.

His father praised the Nebraska football medical staff, particularly Dr. Lonnie Albers.

“It would appear all of the tough stuff is behind us,” said Kent Mann, noting that it can be four to six weeks before mononucleosis sufferers return to full strength physically. “It looks like Kurt’s a couple weeks into the process, though it’s hard to tell exactly when he picked it up.

“Kurt’s a big, strong kid. He doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke — that’s a plus on our side. The other side is just seeing how quickly his body can regenerate.”

Mann had started 24 straight games, including this season’s opener against Louisiana Tech, before being forced to the sidelines the week of the second game, against Nicholls State. Junior Brett Byford has started the last two games in Mann’s place.

“Kurt’s a kid who had never been sick in his life,” Kent Mann said. “You can see he’s getting a little bit of his ornery nature back.”

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.