Lucas Leiva targets next season opener

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has targeted the beginning of next season for his return to fitness.

The Brazilian international has been sidelined since November with a knee injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the Reds' campaign.

Kenny Dalglish's side have struggled for consistency in Lucas's absence and the 25-year-old hopes to hand his manager a boost by being fit for next season's Premier League opener.

"My rehab is going well and hopefully I will be fit for next season. It was a bad injury so I need to recover properly to be strong again," Lucas said on his Twitter account.

Lucas signed for Liverpool from Brazilian side Gremio in 2007.