Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: 'Thiago Alcantara back by March'

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that Thiago Alcantara is likely to return to action in March.

The 23-year-old has been dogged by a knee injury since August, which has required two separate bouts of surgery.

However, Rummenigge has confirmed that the Bundesliga club are "optimistic" that the midfielder is now on the road to recovery.

"We are optimistic. He should be back in February or March as the healing process is well underway," he told Bild.

Fitness problems have limited Thiago to just 25 appearances since he joined Bayern from Barcelona in the summer of 2013.