Chinese international Sun Jihai has been given the all clear to start rehabilitation after having a successful operation on his injured knee.

If everything goes well, the Manchester City defender will be ready for the pre-season training, City's official website said on Saturday.

The 27-year-old injured his medial and cruciate ligament in an innocuous challenge with Eidur Gudjohnsen in City's home win over Chelsea in October.

There were initial fears that he would have to undergo a doubleoperation on his knee, but Dr. Simon Roberts, a knee specialist, only carried out the operation on his cruciate ligament.

Initial repair work on the medial ligament proved sufficient and Sun doesn't have to take a second operation, the club said.

Sun has made over eighty appearances for the Blues since his move to City almost three years ago.

Source: Xinhua