Football
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Javi Martinez confident of quick return to action at Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich defensive midfielder Javi Martinez said he hopes to return soon from a serious left knee injury and that he has heard nothing about possible negotiations for a return to Athletic Bilbao.

"I returned to training on Tuesday so it won't take long. I'm still not going into direct contact or tackles, but that's slowly coming," Martinez told Thursday's edition of Munich tabloid TZ.

The Spain midfielder tore a cruciate ligament, meniscus and tendons in his knee in the German Super Cup in August 2014. He made one substitute appearance toward the end of last season.

"After my cruciate ligament tear my thighs no longer had enough strength to stabilize my knee, which led to the patellar tendon being strained," Martinez said. "After working on it with the doctors, it looks a lot better now. But I still have to be careful."

When asked about a possible return to La Liga with Athletic, Martinez said: "I don't know what will happen next year, the only thing that matters is today and tomorrow.

"I have no knowledge about any kind of negotiation and the only thing that matters to me is to show Bayern Munich that I can return to fitness and play again."

The 27-year-old -- who also needed needed groin surgery in September 2013 -- remains Bayern's most expensive signing after joining for €40 million (then $50m) from Athletic Bilbao in 2012, but his time with the Bavarian side has been plagued by injury.

Martinez said the mental struggle he faced was the hardest part of dealing with his knee injury.

"You see the days go by but the knee doesn't get any better. The process is extremely long. And there were days that I thought I'd never be fit again," Martinez said. "My physios reassured me and made it clear that such an injury needs time and that I would come back again."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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