Delph closing in on return

Fabian Delph is hoping to return to action for Manchester City after the current international break.

The England midfielder has missed City's last nine matches with an Achilles injury but is now nearing the end of his recovery.

The 26 year old said: “It was a bit of a tricky injury. It was an Achilles problem but I'm nearly there now and should start training in the next few days.

“I'm really excited to be getting back out on the pitch again and I'm hoping to be available for the next game.”

City return to action with a Barclays Premier League trip to Bournemouth on April 2 before facing Paris Saint–Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter–final four days later.

News of Delph's recovery, soon after a similarly positive update from knee injury victim Kevin De Bruyne, will lift City after a difficult past week.