The New York Yankees’ captain, Derek Jeter, returned to play against the Kansas City Royals, on Thursday night, only to suffer tightness in his quad.

According to team manager Joe Girardi although the Irish American Jeter felts well enough to play on Friday he will undergo an MRI.

On Thursday night he was removed from the game early and replaced by pinch-hitter Brett Gardner in the eighth inning of New York's 8-4 victorious game.

Jeter said “It just tightened up a little bit, so hopefully it's not a big deal.

“It's not frustrating yet. We'll see. They MRI everything around here. I'm going to get an MRI and we'll find out, but I hope it's not a big deal. I don't ever think anything is a big deal, so I'm hoping for the best.”

Girardi said he is hopeful the injury isn't serious.

Girardi said "Jeet thinks he'll be able to play tomorrow [Friday]. Hopefully, it's nothing, just leg tightness, and he'll be ready to go."

The captain missed the first 91 of the season games due to a fractured left ankle and was delighted to return to play. He told ESPN “I couldn't wait. Ever since I got hurt in October, I was thinking about the first at-bat.

“I wanted to get back on the field. That's what I worked extremely hard for and did all the rehab. Rehab is not easy. It's not fun. The reason I did it is because I wanted to get back and I wanted to get back on the field.”