SOUTH African youngster Ayanda Patosi is making a quicker than expected recovery from a serious knee injury and will be ready for the start of next season.

Belgian club Lokeren say the 20-year-old is three weeks ahead of schedule and that they are impressed with the progress he has made so far.

Patosi tore a knee ligament towards the end of last year. Amazingly, he still joined up with the Bafana Bafana pre-Africa Cup of Nations camp, but the problem meant he was not selected for the final squad.

He still scored for Lokeren against OH Leuven on January 19, but after that it was decided that he needed surgery in Antwerp to fix the problem.

Initial estimates were that he would be out for six months, but he could be back kicking a ball sooner than that, though it is highly unlikely he will play again in this campaign.

"He has shown very positive signs and we are very pleased to say that he is three weeks ahead of where we would expect him to be," a club spokesman said. "He will definitely be ready for the start of next season."

Patosi has been a revelation for Lokeren this season, with coach Peter Maes admitting that his loss meant the club had to lower their ambitions for this campaign.

The attacking midfielder, who can play anywhere across the midfield, scored seven goals in 22 starts for the team, including a wonder-strike against Standard Liege that is a possible contender for Fifa Goal of the Year.