The midfielder ruptured his thigh muscle in November and was ruled out for three months but is set to return for the end of season run-in

Real Madrid star Luka Modric has revealed he is on course to make his return from a ruptured thigh muscle within the next three weeks.

The Croatia international suffered the problem in the first half of his nation's Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy on November 18, with the midfielder told he would be on the sidelines for more than three months.

Thankfully for both his club and international side, the 29-year-old's recovery has gone according to plan and providing he has no reaction to the final stages of his rehabilitation, he should be fit enough to resume full training by the start of March.

Modric told Sportske novosti: "My rehabilitation is going according to plan, it is going very well. I am happy and I will soon be back on the pitch! I have been aware just how serious this injury is ever since it happened, and we all agreed we have to be patient because a rupture is very complicated.

"Yes, I miss playing very much but I am disciplined and I don't want to rush things. I know it could end very badly, with a new injury, if I return too soon."

The risk of repeating the injury was emphasised by the Croatia FA's head of medical services Boris Nemec, who added: "He will begin to run now and in three weeks he should make full training sessions with the team.

"If he feels the smallest pain, he should postpone his return because with muscle injuries, especially ruptures like this one, there is a big chance of renewing the injury. Thirty per cent of players renew their muscle injuries because they return too soon. His injury, the rupture of the rectus femoris, is something I've not witnessed in my career."

If he was to suffer the misfortune of rupturing the muscle for a second time, the former Tottenham star could face an even longer absence, according to national team doctor Zoran Bahtijarevic: "If he were to rush things he could be out for a year."

The news means Modric could make his return to action against Athletic Bilbao in March, while he should be fit in time for the second leg of Madrid's last-16 Champions League tie with Schalke.