Martinez: De Bruyne will be back sooner than expected

Kevin De Bruyne is a naturally quick healer and will be back on the pitch far sooner than initially thought, according to Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.

The Manchester City playmaker injured a ligament in his right knee in training last month and the original prognosis was he would be out of action for at least three months.

But speaking to journalists at the FIFA Football Conference in London on Sunday, Martinez was much more optimistic.

"It was a freak accident, it happens, football is a contact sport," the 45-year-old former Wigan and Everton boss said.

"The issue is how long he will be out and the reports are very positive. I think we'll see him on the pitch a lot earlier than other players would take with that injury (and) we think he could be even fresher after his period away.

"No time scale yet but Kevin wants to be on the football pitch as quick as he can and physically he's got that natural gift of being able to heal quicker than other players."