Garry Monk looks distressed in front of Brendan Rodgers after coming off

Swansea City captain Garry Monk is confident of returning from a knee injury six weeks ahead of schedule.

He was expected to be out for three months after suffering ruptured knee medial ligaments in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Colchester United.

But Monk says a specialist medical opinion has set his recovery for between six and eight weeks.

He said: "It's a case of just pushing on now... and then hopefully being in contention some time in March."

Monk scored the opening goal on 25 minutes but four minutes later, he came out worse from a challenge with Colchester's David Mooney.

It was first feared that Monk had damaged the same cruciate ligament that kept him out of the 2006/07 season.

But he expects to return to action in time to help his side continue their Championship challenge for a place in the Premier League next season.

"I saw my specialist yesterday [Monday] and he said to me that if I work hard, which I normally do anyway when I'm injured, you should be looking at around a six-week period," Monk told BBC Sport Wales.

"But on a cautionary side of things, he said maybe six to eight, but he said it could be anywhere between there.

"But I like to think, and he seems to think, it will be more towards the six [weeks].

"So I'm not going to say it's going to be exactly on six weeks, but it's a case of just pushing on now, which is nice, and then hopefully being in contention coming into some time in March."

Even so, Monk's injury leaves boss Brendan Rodgers short of central defensive options with Ashley Williams, Alan Tate and Albert Serran the recognised contenders.

Full-back Neil Taylor is already out injured while Angel Rangel pulled out of the Colchester game with injury in the build-up leaving youngster Daniel Alfei to make his debut at right-back, with Jazz Richards filling in at left-back.

"To lose him [Monk] going into an important stage of the season would be a massive blow," said Rodgers after Saturday's win.

"We would have to do something. Obviously we've got Alan Tate coming back this week which is great for us.

"But we would certainly need to reinforce by bringing in another defender."

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