Fulham manager Martin Jol has revealed that Mahamadou Diarra is close to making a return to training.

A knee injury has prevented the 32-year-old midfielder from turning out for the Whites since December and as a result his contract, which expired earlier this summer, has not been renewed.

However, it is believed that if he can prove his fitness to Jol, then there is a chance that he could be offered fresh terms by the Londoners.

"Diarra is coming back, he's probably at 50%. He's not really fit but if there's no contact like in possession games, then he can join us in training. He's not quite there where we want him to be yet," the Fulham Chronicle quotes Jol as saying.

The Mali international signed for the Whites in 2012 following stints with Lyon, Real Madrid and Monaco.