Manchester City fullback Wayne Bridge hopes to be back for the derby against Manchester United next month.
Bridge is undergoing hernia surgery which will keep him out for at least a month.
Bridge is set to miss games at Fulham, Wigan, Burnley and Birmingham and has set his sights on a return to action in the Manchester derby against neighbours United on April 17.
City manager Robert Mancini will now move Joleon Lescott across to left-back or put his faith in Brazilian Sylvinho or Spaniard Javier Garrido.