Kone hopes for rapid return

Ivory Coast international goes under the knife

By Giscard Gourizro   Last updated: 2nd September 2008

Kone hopes for rapid return

Kone: Knee injury

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Sevilla striker Arouna Kone is confident he will play this season after undergoing successful surgery on his cruciate knee ligament injury.

The Ivory Coast international damaged his left knee while representing his country in the friendly victory over Guinea in August and it was initially feared he could be sidelined for the duration of the 2008/09 campaign.

However, Kone successfully went under the knife on Monday and the 24-year-old is hopeful he will make a rapid recovery.

"I am fine," Kone told skysports.com.

"The operation was okay and I think I will play this season.

"I have to prove myself to the Sevilla fans. They have not seen the best of me yet, but I will be back."

Kone joined Sevilla from PSV Eindhoven in 2007 and has since made 17 appearances for the Primera Liga club.