Birmingham left-back David Murphy is targeting a full return to action in time for the start of next season.

The 25-year-old former Hibernian man sustained a fractured kneecap away at Watford towards the end of this season, forcing him out of the final two games and leaving him facing a summer of rehabilitation.

But having had a successful operation he now has to rest, before slowly getting back to full fitness ahead of what will be a tough campaign in the Premier League.

"I will be doing a different pre-season to everyone else," said Murphy in the Birmingham Mail. "Post-op I basically can't do anything for 12 weeks, which is so frustrating because over the summer I tend to keep myself fit and do some sort of training most days.

"So to do nothing it's quite hard, but that's what I've been told so the bone will heal.

"I've had two screws put in it and once I've got the all-clear and I build up the muscle in my thigh again, I will be aiming to be available for the start of the season."