Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson is edging closer to full fitness.

The Manchester Evening News says Johnson is winning his fitness battle to be back in the first team picture by the end of the season.

And boss Mark Hughes is ready to invite other clubs to Carrington for behind-closed-doors matches to speed up the process even further.

Nagging groin and pelvic problems have kept the 21-year-old out of action since the end of September but if Johnson keeps making progress he could yet force his way back into the manager's plans before the end of the current campaign.

He also has the carrot of trying to make Stuart Pearce's England under-21 squad for this summer's European Championships. He would be an automatic choice if fit.