While the rest of the squad jetted off to the World Club Championship in Japan, he was flying out to America for an operation.
"I'm more than 100% confident I can come back but it's something I can't really speed up," he said.
"I look at someone like Djibril Cisse who made a remarkable recovery last season.
"I've told him I will be back to score the winner in Paris this May.
"That would be a dream for me, to come back and score the winner in Paris. I'm up for it."