Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has revealed he is planning to be cautious as he tries to make his latest return from injury a successful one.

The Belgian international has suffered 34 injuries during his time at the Etihad Stadium but has still managed to play a pivotal role for the club.

The Citizens, 2.20 to win the Premier League title, were without him for last week’s 4-0 Champions League defeat away to Barcelona.

He had returned to the squad the week before against Everton but manager Pep Guardiola confirmed after the defeat that the centre-back had not felt 100 per cent ready.

Kompany was back in the first-team fold on Sunday and played 78 minutes against Southampton in the 1-1 draw, his first top-flight start since April.

Despite looking fit and ready, Kompany admits he is not willing to rush his comeback as he tries to enjoy a long run in the team.

He told Sky Sports: “My situation is very simple. I’ve been out for six months. “I’ve had to make one commitment to the medical staff, which was that I’d be honest towards them with my feelings, and that I would listen to them when they made a decision.

“I told them how I felt the day before the (Barcelona) game and they made the decision for me.

I wanted to play, of course, that wasn’t even in doubt, but I’ve just made this commitment to listen to them a little bit more. “I know what I have to do to be back at my level.

Motivation only keeps going up because I feel like I belong on the pitch and I deserve to have good moments because of how I’ve worked every single day to come back.”