Robbie is set to resume full training tomorrow, and could be in line to face Everton on Saturday. http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/story-19939196-detail/story.html?#axzz2hrd0Hwqv
Lets not rush him back, appealing as that is. Aim for Sunderland for his first game. He's a young lad and hernia's can and do comeback without proper R&R.
My personal experience is that 17 days is more than adequate time to recover from what seems to have been a fairly minor abdominal hernia. If Robbie is feeling no pain and already running hard in training Bruce could put him on the bench to give him a 20 minute run out without any damage IMO.