Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus to return within three weeks

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that crocked striker Gabriel Jesus is on course for a return to action well ahead of schedule.

The Brazil international was initially expected to miss around three months of action after leaving the field in tears against Crystal Palace with a knee injury.

Jesus visited Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona on Thursday for an assessment, however, and Guardiola is confident that he will have the 20-year-old back available to choose from in early February.

"I think in two, three weeks hopefully for the Champions League game against Basel he could be fit," he told reporters.

Former Palmeiras starlet Jesus scored 10 goals in all competitions before being struck down by injury on December 31.