However, he has now completed the first stage of his recovery programme in Italy and returned to the Blues’ Carrington training HQ, where he will continue his rehabilitation.

Eriksson has been reluctant to put any timescale on Bojinov’s likely comeback and the 21-year-old’s progress is unlikely to prevent the Swede entering the transfer market in January to bring in a striking reinforcement as City look to maintain their impressive third-place position.

But the indications are that the former Fiorentina player will return at some stage this season.

“There will be no pressure put on him,” Eriksson told the Manchester Evening News.

“You cannot rush a player after an operation like that but he may be back in some form of light training by late November or early December.

“I have seen the report sent from the doctor in Rome to our club doctor over Valeri’s injury and it was very good.”

As with most of his Premier League counterparts, Eriksson is waiting nervously to see how many of his international stars come through this week’s games.

The former England coach has already received one piece of good news though as reserve team boss Kenny Jackett, who is currently working with the first-team in the continued absence on compassionate grounds of Eriksson’s assistant Hans Backe, has rejected overtures from Millwall over their vacant manager’s job to remain with the Eastlands outfit.