Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy has revealed that a return to action in time for the Champions League semi-finals remains his comeback target.
The 23-year-old suffered knee ligament damage during the Citizens' 5-0 home win against Crystal Palace on September 23, ruling him out for the vast majority of the campaign.
City boss Pep Guardiola admitted earlier this month that he is hopeful of getting Mendy back on the field by April, and the France international is confident of sticking to that timeline to help both club and country come next year.
"I told Pep after I got my results I would only have surgery if he promised me City would be in the Champions League semi-finals when I come back," he told The Times. "That is our checkpoint. That is where we will meet again.
"I want to get back fit as soon as possible. I want to play in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and there's no doubt in my mind that I will play in the World Cup.
"You know what I'm like when I play with City, I always have a smile on my face and it's the same with my rehab."
Mendy, a £50m signing from Monaco in the summer, featured just five times for City in all competitions before being struck down by injury.
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