The Bulgaria international suffered the injury on his first Barclays Premier League start for City - the Manchester derby win over United in August.

However, he has now completed the first stage of his recovery programme in Italy and returned to the Blues' Carrington training HQ, where he will continue his rehabilitation.

very good

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been reluctant to put any timescale on Bojinov's likely comeback and the 21-year-old's progress but the indications are that the former Fiorentina player will return at some stage this season.

"There will be no pressure put on him," Eriksson said. "You cannot rush a player after an operation like that but he may be back in some form of light training by late November or early December.

"I have seen the report sent from the doctor in Rome to our club doctor over Valeri's injury and it was very good."