Wright-Phillips tore a cartilage in his right knee during the 3-2 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road last month, prompting fears that he could miss the rest of the season. But after having a successful operation ten days ago, the 23-year-old midfield player has started his rehabilitation and could be fit for City’s trip to Blackburn Rovers on April 23, although a more likely target would be the home match against Portsmouth a week later.

The news will also come as a relief to Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England head coach, who is certain to include a fully fit Wright-Phillips in the squad for the summer tour to the United States, despite the player’s poor showing in a friendly against Holland last month.

“The surgeon was very pleased with how the operation went,” Derek Fazackerley, the City assistant manager, said. “It could be that he is out for six or seven weeks, but Joey Barton (the City midfield player) came back quicker than that and who is to say that Shaun won’t do the same.

“It is going to be a big summer for Shaun and he would obviously want to put himself in contention for the England squads again. His priority is obviously to get himself fit and to start to play for us again and once he does that then the England call-up should follow.

“It is difficult for Shaun to think about England at the moment when he has just started his rehab, but he has been in the last three or four international squads and once he proves his fitness for us, I am sure there will not be a problem for him on the England front.”