Wednesday 27 January 2016 12:20, UK
Manuel Pellegrini has revealed Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany should be back in action in two weeks.
It had been reported the Belgian defender faced another six weeks on the sidelines in a season which has been persistently interrupted by injuries.
That has proved costly for City, who have looked far more assured at the back when he has been fit enough to play.
Kompany's latest issue has seen him out with a calf problem since he had to come off just nine minutes after being introduced as a substitute against Sunderland on Boxing Day.
He is making progress now and although he will miss Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg with Everton, a return to full fitness could be close.
"We said in the last press conference that it will be a couple of weeks and we need to wait and see how he improves but he could be back before," confirmed City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Pellegrini is also not concerned with the fixture congestion his side faces in the next month - City's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Everton is the first in a run of seven matches in 30 days - and insists he prefers a busy schedule.
I want to be involved in as many competitions as possible; it's better for the group and better for the squad.
"Maybe it will be a disadvantage to us to play lots of games," added the Chilean, "but I want to be involved in as many competitions as possible; it's better for the group and better for the squad.
"I would prefer to be playing games than to be eliminated from these competitions."
