Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has targeted the beginning of next season for his return to fitness.

The Brazilian international has been sidelined since November with a knee injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the Reds' campaign.

Kenny Dalglish's side have struggled for consistency in Lucas's absence and the 25-year-old hopes to hand his manager a boost by being fit for next season's Premier League opener.

"My rehab is going well and hopefully I will be fit for next season. It was a bad injury so I need to recover properly to be strong again," Lucas said on his Twitter account.

Lucas signed for Liverpool from Brazilian side Gremio in 2007.