Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is looking forward to the return of forgotten striker Valeri Bojinov.

The Bulgarian, signed from Fiorentina in the summer, has not figured since August when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury.

However, he has made a good recovery and scored in the reserves' 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday night having come on as a 69th-minute substitute.

Although the 22-year-old is still some way short of match fitness Eriksson is pleased the end to the player's injury nightmare is close.

"Bojinov looks better and better. He has a long way to go before he is 100% but he played in the reserves against Liverpool, which is good," said the City boss.

"I wouldn't say he is desperate to play football but almost. He has been out for a long time but has been working hard in the gym with the physios.

"Five or six weeks ago we thought he was on the right way and he played for the reserves and then we had to take him out and put him on more training in the gym and more muscle work.

"It has been very tough for him and that is good (he has returned to action)."

City have been afflicted by a number of injuries and while Nedum Onuoha has been ruled out for the season with a dislocated shoulder sustained against Chelsea last weekend, there is better news on fellow centre-back Micah Richards.

The England defender has been out since late February with a knee injury but is set to return to training next week.

"If everything goes as we hope and think he may be able to train with us on Monday," said Eriksson.

"Then we have to see how training goes and when he is ready to play but let us wait until Monday and see."

Richards, however, is more confident about the speed of his return to action.

"It should not be long before I am back in action - I have been sitting on my backside for too long already," he said in his BBC Sport column.

"I do feel I am making progress with my knee - this week I did a lot more twisting and turning, the sort of stuff you would be doing during a match.

"Now I am just trying to get used to the ball again but it feels good."

Eriksson hopes to have Onuoha back in time to be involved in the club's summer preparations.

"It is a serious injury, they are talking about being out for three months," he said.

"Hopefully he will be ready for the beginning of July when we start pre-season."

Onuoha's absence means Vedran Corluka is likely to move inside with Sun Jihai coming in at right-back for the trip to Sunderland on Saturday.

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