Kevin De Bruyne is hoping to be back for Manchester City's next Premier League game against Bournemouth after missing 10 weeks with a knee injury.
The Belgium midfielder has not joined up with his national team over the international break but City boss Manuel Pellegrini hopes he can play in an under-21 fixture in the next few days before the game at the Vitality Stadium on April 2.
That would give the midfielder some vital game time ahead of the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on April 6.
De Bruyne, who tore his knee ligaments in the Capital One Cup semifinal second leg victory over Everton on Jan. 27, told Man City's official YouTube channel that his recovery is ahead of schedule.
He said: "My injury is going good. I am training very well and I think I'm ahead of schedule. I'm looking to be back after the international break. I think that's a couple of weeks ahead.
"I have been training outside for almost two-and-a-half weeks with the physios, doing like one-and-a-half hour sessions a day, plus inside. For the moment I am not having any issues with any individual stuff, so I am doing fine.
"I think it's always frustrating for a player not to be there but from the day it happened I switched my button and I am preparing myself to do well in the next couple of games that I will be there.
"It's been tough because we have lost a few games in the league and we are a little bit behind but we are there in the Champions League and looking forward to that and hopefully we can do well."
City have won just two Premier League games since De Bruyne's injury and are now 15 points behind leaders Leicester City.
.@debruynekev on fatherhood and returning to full fitness. Injury update ➡️ https://t.co/JSv8oIl2rz #mcfc https://t.co/IsQr2vkIx9
- Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 22, 2016
Pellegrini's side also face a battle for fourth to secure Champions League football, with West Ham United and Manchester United now just a point behind them.
De Bruyne said: "Mathematically there's always a chance. We are a lot of points behind with eight games to go. If we don't get it, we have to try to be second and try to win as many games as possible to qualify for the Champions League next year.
"We have to be confident we can still do it. If in the end we don't manage it and it's not our fault, so be it but we have to try all the games possible. I hate losing games. I want to win them."
De Bruyne added that he was looking forward to facing PSG.
He said: "I think it's a very nice draw. PSG are a wonderful club. They are already champions in France and maybe that can be an advantage for us but if you want to win the Champions League you have to win against the big guns."