Tuesday 22 March 2016 12:36, UK
Kevin De Bruyne is hopeful of returning to action with Manchester City after the international break.
The Belgium midfielder suffered knee ligament damage and a sprained ankle during City's Capital One Cup semi-final against Everton on January 27.
His return would give City a major lift at a critical stage of their season, and particularly after key players Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling joined the injury list in the past week.
De Bruyne told City TV: "The injury is going good. I am training very well and thinking I am ahead of schedule, so I am looking to be back after the international break. It looks like I'm a couple of weeks ahead."
City went on to win the Capital One Cup and have reached the Champions League quarter-finals during De Bruyne's absence, but the £54m record signing has still been badly missed.
Without the 24-year-old, who has contributed 12 goals and 12 assists this season, City have fallen off the pace in the Premier League title race and are now facing a battle to retain fourth place.
De Bruyne said: "I think it is always frustrating for a player not to be there but from the moment it happened I switched my button and I am preparing myself to do well the next couple of games I will be there.
"It has been tough because we lost a couple of games in the league and we are a little bit behind, but we are there in the Champions League - looking forward to that obviously and hopefully we can do well."
Even if we don't get it we have to try to be second and try to win the most games as possible, and also qualify for the Champions League next year.
City trail leaders Leicester by 15 points and, while recognising the gap may be too big to close, De Bruyne insists his side will not stop fighting.
"Mathematically there is always a chance but obviously we are a lot of points behind with eight games to go," he said. "Even if we don't get it we have to try to be second and try to win the most games as possible, and also qualify for the Champions League next year.
"We just have to be confident we can still do it. If in the end if we don't manage it and it is not our fault, so be it, but we have to try to win all the games possible."
