Monday 25 January 2016 20:13, UK
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is aiming to be back in action for the closing stages of the season.
Nasri severely damaged a thigh muscle and tendon during a training session last October and has not played since City's 5-1 home victory over Bournemouth on October 17.
The Frenchman initially feared he would be out for the season but he has revealed he is ahead of schedule in his recovery and hopes to return to full training by the end of March.
Nasri also revealed the surgery he needed to repair the tendon and muscle necessitated almost 100 stitches.
The 28-year-old told City's official website: "The original estimate by the doctors was that I'd be out for between four to six months and the surgeon told me the same, but I've already done two months and I'm targeting the international beak in March to be back properly with the squad.
"We have a schedule and at the moment we are ahead. We have a fantastic medical team here and though you always want to set targets to be back as soon as possible, I want to return and be fully fit without any problems because this was kind of a big injury.
"The physios are having to be careful about how I recover, but I want to work hard and be back with the squad before the end of the season."
City host United in the Manchester derby on Sunday March 20 ahead of the international break and then return to action on Saturday April 2 with a trip to Bournemouth.
