Javi Martinez eyeing return from injury

Munich - Bayern Munich defensive midfielder Javi Martinez hopes to return soon from a serious left knee injury.

Martinez tells Thursday's edition of Munich tabloid TZ that "I returned to training on Tuesday so it won't take long. I'm still not going into direct contact or tackles, but that's slowly coming."

The Spain midfielder tore a cruciate ligament, meniscus and tendons in his knee in the German Super Cup in August 2014. He made one substitute appearance toward the end of last season.

Martinez says "after my cruciate ligament tear my thighs no longer had enough strength to stabilize my knee, which led to the patellar tendon being strained. After working on it with the doctors, it looks a lot better now. But I still have to be careful."