• Premier League

Benayoun aiming to be back for Blues in April

ESPN staff
March 4, 2011
Yossi Benayoun has not played for Chelsea since September © Getty Images
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Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun is hoping to return to first-team action by the beginning of April.

Benayoun suffered a torn Achilles during just his second start for the club back in September, halting his progress after joining in a £5.5 million deal from Liverpool during the summer.

As he continues his recovery after surgery, the 30-year-old is hopeful he will be available for selection for the Premier League clash against Stoke City on April 2.

"I'm feeling really good and progressing well," Benayoun told the Jewish Chronicle. "I hope to return to full training with Chelsea within a week or two.

"My hope is to be match fit towards the end of the month. That is about the time I expect to be fit - a few days this way or that. You never know with these injuries."

The Israel international admitted his despair at picking up the injury so early in his career at Stamford Bridge, but has been persuaded by medical staff that he will make a full recovery and be able to contribute to the remainder of the club's campaign.

"It wasn't easy to be given the verdict about the injury," he said. "But the moment I'd undergone the operation and the surgeon told me about other players who had fully recovered from the same injury and returned to play, I began to feel calmer.

"I really believe in myself now and I've been running for quite a few weeks, sometimes with the ball."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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