Bojan Krkic hopes for Stoke City return against Liverpool

Bojan Krkic is hopeful that he will recover from injury in time for Stoke City's opening game of the season against Liverpool.

The Spaniard suffered a cruciate ligament injury in January when the Potters played Rochdale in the FA Cup.

The 24-year-old has since undergone a rehabilitation programme back in Spain, and is eyeing a return to the squad when Liverpool come to Britannia Stadium on August 8.

Bojan told Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport: "I feel better, it's been four-and-a-half months from that knee injury. Now I'm enhancing muscle tone and I hope to return in time for the start of the season."

The attacker joined Stoke from Barcelona for £3m last summer.