Pablo Zabaleta eyeing New Year's Eve return against Liverpool

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has earmarked his side's New Year's Eve clash with Liverpool as a possible date for his return from injury.

The 31-year-old was withdrawn at half time of City's 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and was later spotted wearing a knee brace having experienced pain in his ligament.

However, the Argentine has confirmed that the injury is not serious and that he hopes to return to action within 10 days.

"Hopefully it is not too bad. Maybe I can have an injection in there and be ready in, I don't know, maybe 10 days. We'll see," he told Sky Sports News.

"I felt it straight away after 15 minutes and I just tried to finish the first half. I was with some pain in the ligament and it was a risk to continue playing, possibly make it worse, and that's why I came off."

Zabaleta will miss the Boxing Day trip to Hull City with the injury.