Hargreaves has begun working with the ball since his injury

The 25-year-old has been working separately from the rest of the Bayern Munich team but is optimistic he can join the squad after the winter break.

"It's great to be able train again," Hargreaves told bundesliga.de.

"I've got a long way to go but I'm looking forward to the coming weeks and hopefully my progress will be quick."

I'm looking forward to making a comeback Owen Hargreaves

Hargreaves broke his leg while playing for Bayern Munich against Arminia Bielefeld on 17 September.

The injury forced him out of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia and the majority of Bayern's Bundesliga campaign.

"It's frustrating as every day I see the players going out to training and I watch the games in the stadium," said Hargreaves.

"It's difficult because I am working on my rehabiliation and that's been more than eight weeks already.

"But it makes you appreciate being healthy again and I'm looking forward to making a comeback."

Hargreaves' progress is likely to be of interest to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who still harbours hopes of signing the England international.

Ferguson's attempts to bring Hargreaves to Old Trafford in the summer were thwarted by Bayern but he could rekindle his interest in the January transfer window.