AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo's recovery from a thigh injury is ahead of schedule.

Pirlo was expected to be out for two months, but his rehab has medical chiefs expecting the Italy star to return well ahead of schedule.

"I am a bit better and I am doing everything to help the injury heal," he explained.

"I just need a bit of time for things to mend properly and then I will be out on the pitch again.

"But Milan have done well in midfield without me because Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf have excelled.

"The midfielders that have been playing have different characteristics to me but the formation can be moulded to its components, which is important for the team as a whole."