Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is hopeful he will be fit enough to make his return from injury at the start of next season.

32172 - Lucas on target for next season

Lucas, 25, is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury he suffered in Liverpool's 2-0 Carling Cup win over Chelsea last November.

The Brazil international is a key member of Kenny Dalglish's team and he has confirmed his recovery from the injury is progressing well.

"My rehab is going well and hopefully I will be fit for next season," he wrote on his Twitter account. "It was a bad injury so I need to recover properly to be strong again."

Lucas also urged Liverpool fans to stand by their team after the Reds slipped to another disappointing result in the Premier League as they lost 2-1 at home to Wigan on Saturday.

He continued: "I know everyone is disappointed about [Saturday's result], but we need to move on and keep working."