Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Jermain Defoe is hoping be back in action well within the three-month absence predicted after he suffered an ankle injury while on international duty.
The 27-year-old has undergone surgery to repair damaged ankle ligaments and has his sights set on a return to the fold in around two months.
Defoe told the Daily Mirror:"When I did my metatarsal a couple of years ago, they said I'd be back after ten weeks and I was back after six.
"People were joking that I must have some special blood and that I was not normal because I'd healed really quick.
"Obviously I want to take my time with this because its ligaments and the ones that I have done take a long time to heal. But hopefully I could be back in about eight weeks.
"I'm also lucky in that I'm 27 and I have only ever had two operations in my career. I'll be fine.
"It's amazing how one minute you can be on a high, having scored my first hat-trick for England, reaching the Champions League group stages, then have your whole world come crashing down. Just like that."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email