Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has said he hopes to return to action before the end of the year.
Zouma's season came to a premature end in February when he underwent surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, having previously done well to win a regular first-team spot off Gary Cahill.
When asked if he would be back before 2017, the 21-year-old, said he hoped that he would be.
"I think so," he told French TV show Telefoot. "I have the time to prepare myself. But I don't have a precise date -- we'll see how things go."
The France international gave fans an insight into how his recovery is going by posting a video on his Instagram account last week.
The former St Etienne player is now hoping to step up his rehabilitation after suffering no setbacks so far.
"With this type of injury you never know but everything is going well," he said. "I'm kicking the ball a bit -- I have no pain. I'm feeling good so I'm going to continue like that.
"I hope to stay at Chelsea. I feel good there and I hope that everything will go well next year."
Zouma was brought to Chelsea in January 2014 by new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
But the centre-back is not thinking about linking up with his old boss at Old Trafford anytime soon.
"I don't think he's going to call me," Zouma said. "I think he has other problems to sort out, but I feel good at Chelsea."