Woodgate targets February return

Last updated at 10:27 26 January 2005


Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate is hoping to return to action within five weeks, according to his agent.

The England centre-back is battling to overcome a ruptured tendon as well as his original thigh muscle injury.

He has yet to make a single appearance for Madrid following a £13.4million move from Newcastle United in the summer.

"He is on his way back," Simon Bayliff told BBC Sport. "When you are out for that amount of time stories grow.

"But he is confident he will be fit and playing again soon, hopefully by the end of February."

Bayliff also insists there is no pressure on the 25-year-old to start playing again before he is ready.

He added: "When you get a repeated injury in the same area it takes a longer time to recover.

"The club are not throwing caution to the wind. They want to make sure he is absolutely 110% before he comes back."

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