Wright-Phillips set to begin fitness battle

Shaun Wright-Phillips will start his rehabilitation programme later this week after successfully coming through an operation to repair his torn cartilage.

The 23-year-old England international suffered the injury during Manchester City’s 3-2 win at Norwich last week and the initial diagnosis was that he would be out of action for up to eight weeks.

City boss Kevin Keegan has already indicated Wright-Phillips might be back much sooner than that and if the example of Blues team-mate Joey Barton is anything to go by, the manager will get his wish.

Barton returned within five weeks after a similar operation earlier this season and while club doctor Mark Whitaker is refusing to put a timescale on the Londoners’ return, he is optimistic about a speedy recovery.

“The operation was a success,” Whitaker told the club’s website, www.mcfc.co.uk.

“Shaun is upbeat and raring to start his rehab.

“We are not setting any targets but the prognosis is promising. It was the right decision to operate and we look forward to seeing Shaun in a City shirt again soon.”