AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy has said that he expects to return from his latest spell on the sidelines within the next three weeks.
The 22-year-old has been out for the past three months with a foot injury, which has restricted him to making just 15 league appearances this season.
El Shaarawy has struggled with a number of problems over recent years, but he is hopeful that he will be able to play a major part for his club in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
"I've seen the lads working hard in training -- they're really giving it everything, so fingers crossed," he told Milan Channel. "I hope to be back within three weeks and I'm optimistic about the final month of the season, and I hope we can get the points to qualify for Europe.
"My objective is to help the team do it. I'm sorry I've not been able to help my teammates, but I'm aiming to get back as soon as possible and I therefore hope I can give them a hand when I'm back.
"It's not been easy to be out for nearly three months and I'm delighted to be back running again. This is a special week for us, with the derby, and we've all got to try at all costs to win this game, both for the value of the match and for what it would mean in the league table."
El Shaarawy has scored 25 goals for Milan since his move from Genoa in 2011.
