Fulham defender John Pantsil has rubbished reports from England that he will miss the rest of the season through injury, insisting he will recover to play for the Ghana at the World Cup. The Ghana international has told Ghanasoccernet.com exclusively that he will start running by the end of the month.

This means he be fit to play for Ghana at the World Cup in June and help Fulham in the latter parts of the Premier League season.

Pantsil has been out of action since suffering a serious knee injury in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in December.

The wing-back was expected to return to action by March but reports in several English media outlets last week claimed that he will miss the rest of the season.

But the Ghana international insists he is recovering well and will be avialable to help Fulham hopefully by next month.

"I don't know where these people got the reports from that I am out for the season, but I can assure Ghanaians that this is not the case," Pantsil told Ghanasoccernet.com.

"I will meet my doctors later this week but my recovery is going according to plan and I am happy with how the injury is responding to treatment.

"I expect that I should start running by the end of the month and return some few weeks later to help my club this season.

"Ghanaians should not be discouraged because by the World Cup time I would have recovered for the tournament."

The former West Ham defender has been badly missed by Fulham with Pantsil one of the side's best performers before suffering his injury.

Pantsil was forced to miss the recent African Cup of Nations due to the injury and he is still on course of a full return before the English season ends.

Fulham are confident the right-back would return later this season.