Stoke City striker Mamady Sidibe is nearing a return after knee surgery.

Sidibe has been out of action since March, but wants to get back as a thank-you to fans.

"I want to pay the fans back, because their support helps me a lot. I don't score 15 or 20 goals a season for them, but they know I always give everything," Sidibe told The Sentinel.

"I have had a lot of nice messages from supporters. That makes me happy and more confident. Now I want to repay them when I get back on the pitch."

Sidibe knows he faces a tough task on recapturing a first-team place with Ricardo Fuller, James Beattie, Dave Kitson and Tuncay Sanli all competing for selection.

"I have a big challenge in front of me and it is going to be hard to get a place. We have five strikers and the team is doing well at the moment," he said.

"I have to work harder, but it is good for every player to have those kinds of challenges."

"I am getting much better and, after the international break, I will start training with the squad. It has been the worst injury of my career. Six months on the treadmill has been hard.

"But that's why I need to take it slowly and make sure that, when I do come back, I am ready.

"I don't want to come back just to say 'I'm here'. I want to do something."