Silva confident he will be back to full fitness soon

Silva, troubled by ankle problems for some time, missed nine games for City earlier this season after a tackle forced him to come off in the first 10 minutes of a match for Spain in early October.

Since returning to action at the end of November with a substitute appearance against Southampton, the 29-year-old has played a further four times, starting on each occasion but only completing the full 90 minutes once.

And Silva said: "I have had a few problems with my ankle, but I was able to play - then unfortunately a very bad tackle meant I got injured again and I was out.

"But I'm back now and still getting the rhythm, and hopefully soon will be at 100 per cent."

Silva is one of several key City men who have been on the sidelines this term, most notably skipper and defender Vincent Kompany and striker Sergio Aguero.

Aguero returned to full training on Wednesday as he stepped up his recovery from a heel problem ahead of Monday's Barclays Premier League trip to Arsenal.

City, also through to the Champions League last-16 and Capital One Cup semi-finals, are currently third in the league, a point worse off than second-placed Arsenal.

Silva has no doubt that with everyone fully fit again the Blues can achieve great things this season - including in the European competition, which he believes they have the capability to win.

"We are in the fight for all competitions at the moment," said Silva, speaking at a promotional event for the Anfi Group, the Gran Canaria-based vacation membership company for which he is an ambassador.

"We are hoping to get all our players back from injury, see all the players together and finish the season strongly.

"The first thing is to win the Premier League, as that is what we play in every week.

"We also want to go as far as possible in the Champions League - and for us it is possible to win it, because we have a team that is capable of that. That would be ideal."

Silva has had five years as a City player so far - during which he has won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup and the League Cup - and there are four years remaining on his current contract.

The ex-Valencia man has expressed his desire to play for his native Las Palmas in Gran Canaria before he retires, but concedes he is unable to make any guarantees about the future.

"If I play again in the Spanish league, I would like to play for Las Palmas, the team of my home," Silva said.

"But football is so difficult and it is so long between now and the day that might happen - so let's see."

Meanwhile, Silva has given his reaction to the news of Jose Mourinho's sacking at Chelsea.

Asked if changing the manager would make the struggling Premier League champions more dangerous, Silva said: " You never know in football.

"To be honest, this has not happened in my club so there is not much I can say on that situation.

"But it has been seen before - this is not the first time it has happened in football."

Source: PA