Fabregas sets April comeback date

Cesc Fabregas has confirmed he expects to play again for Arsenal at the start of April as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.

The Spanish midfielder has been sidelined since December 12 when he partially ruptured ligaments in his right knee during the English Premier League game with Liverpool.

Fabregas, 22, did not require surgery but was immediately ruled out for four months by his manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners captain duly flew to his home city of Barcelona to begin his convalesence before returning to north London last weekend to resume light training exercises.

Doctors expect him to be able to begin ball work within the next 10 days and Fabregas hopes to make his return in the meeting with Manchester City at Emirates stadium on April 4.

“I have been working hard on the training ground,” Fabregas said.

“The most important thing is working on my legs to build them up, which will take another three weeks or so, and hopefully in five or six weeks I will be back playing. I am looking at the Manchester City game as a realistic comeback date.

“I have to make sure it’s 100 per cent cured before I come back. Especially because I am a midfielder – I play with the inside of my leg all the time and I’m trying to be involved in the game. But it’s been great to be back at the club.”