Monday 24 September 2018 13:55, UK
Kevin De Bruyne is a naturally quick healer and will be back on the pitch far sooner than initially thought, according to Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
The Manchester City playmaker injured a ligament in his right knee in training last month and the original prognosis was he would be out of action for at least three months.
However, speaking at the FIFA Football Conference in London, Martinez was much more optimistic.
"It was a freak accident, it happens, football is a contact sport," the former Wigan and Everton boss said.
"The issue is how long he will be out and the reports are very positive. I think we'll see him on the pitch a lot earlier than other players would take with that injury [and] we think he could be even fresher after his period away.
"No time scale yet but Kevin wants to be on the football pitch as quick as he can and physically he's got that natural gift of being able to heal quicker than other players."
City's player of the year last season, De Bruyne was also instrumental in Belgium's World Cup campaign, which ended with victory over England in the third-place play-off.
Last week, the 27-year-old said he still needed "three, four, five weeks, but I'm getting there" and Martinez's comments suggest it could be the lower end of that scale, which means a possible return after the October international break.
City play Burnley on October 20, then Shakhtar Donetsk, Tottenham, Southampton and Shakhtar again, before the Manchester derby on November 11.
Elsewhere, De Bruyne and compatriot Eden Hazard could also make the cut for last season's World 11 at the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony on Monday.
However, some observers, most notably Maurizio Sarri, wonder if the Belgium captain should be setting his sights even higher.
Asked if he thought Hazard should be aiming to win FIFA's world player-of-the-year prize, Martinez said: "Individual awards are difficult to put a real meaning on them because they're very subjective.
"Everyone will have their own view but when you see an attacking player with that level of consistency - I think he's been involved in 26 goals in 26 games for the national team - this is world-class. And that is for a player who is always highlighted by the opposition.
"I've seen Eden Hazard at a sensational level at the World Cup and I've seen that carry on with Chelsea this season."
