Michael Schumacher faces "hard fight" to recover from skiing accident

The manager of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher has admitted that it will be a "long time" before the stricken sportsman recovers from his serious skiing accident.

The 45-year-old has been in rehabilitation at his home in Switzerland following a nine-month stint in hospital in an induced coma.

Schumacher suffered serious head injuries after hitting a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps back on December 29 last year.

The former driver's manager Sabine Kehm told Reuters: "We need a long time. It's going to be a long time and a hard fight. He is making progress appropriate to the severity of the situation."

Last weekend, former F1 driver Philippe Streiff claimed that Schumacher had begun recognising his friends and family.