Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov is finally closing in on a return to action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The Bulgaria international has been limited to just three appearances for City since his summer move from Fiorentina after damaging knee ligaments in the Manchester derby against United back in August last year.

The 22-year-old has suffered several set-backs on the road to recovery, but having now successfully taken part in training with his team-mates, he is confident of finally returning to action.

"My rehabilitation is going very well and I feel wonderful. I am already training on an equal basis with my team-mates and hope to return to action in a week or two," Bojinov told Bulgarian radio Darik.

"It will be hard for me to hit my best form by the end of the season. But I am hungry for football and for the moment I only want to return to the pitch. The best thing is that I am close to doing so."

Eriksson's first season in charge at Eastlands has been relatively successful, although a recent dip in form has seen the Blues' bid for a European place falter.

City currently occupy ninth place, a point off a UEFA Cup spot, but Bojinov is under no illusions of the task facing City with just seven Premier League games left this season - including clashes with two of the top four.

"We should be realists and should not lie to ourselves and our fans," he said. "We are going to play some very tough games against Chelsea, Liverpool and teams which are fighting to avoid relegation.

"It will be very hard for us to finish among the top six teams in the Premiership."

Pawel Dimow / Eurosport