PSV Eindhoven defender Alex will travel to Brazil in a bid to speed up his recovery from a hamstring injury that threatens to end his season.

The Dutch club's initial diagnosis speculated that the 24-year-old would be out for six to eight weeks, but a doctor from the Brazilian federation claims he has a recovery programme that would allow Alex to return in just five weeks.

Alex told club PSV's website: 'I will work my butt off. I can start my recovery now in Brazil. I will work like crazy to recover as soon as possible.

'When I return to Holland, a new MRI scan will be done and then I hope that I am allowed to train again.

'I won't give up and I hope that I can play more games this season.'

The Brazil international will return to Eindhoven on April 2, just 24 hours before PSV's Champions League quarter-final first-leg encounter with Liverpool.