Bojan closing in on fitness

The 24-year-old Spaniard suffered a cruciate ligament injury in an FA Cup tie at Rochdale at the end of January, abruptly ending what had been a promising first season in English football.

The former Barcelona player has undergone an extensive rehabilitation programme in his native Spain and believes he is on course to be ready for Stoke's opening Barclays Premier League game against Liverpool on the weekend of August 8-9.

"I feel better, it's been four and a half months from that knee injury," Bojan told Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport.

"Now I'm enhancing muscle tone and I hope to return in time for the start of the season."

Before his injury Bojan had proved a huge hit in the Potteries following his surprise £3million switch from Barcelona last summer.

He scored five goals in 18 games, including three in the five matches before his season-ending injury at Spotland.

"Before the injury I was playing with continuity in a competitive league - and thanks to Mark Hughes (Stoke manager) finally I was used in my role, not like in Italy," said Bojan, who has also played for Milan, Roma and Ajax.

"I am a striker or at least a playmaker behind the front man, certainly not a wide man.

"But with Rome and Milan, I was only playing on the wings.

"I can do it, I did do it, but it's not the same thing."

Source : PA

Source: PA