The Minnesota Timberwolves expect Ricky Rubio to return from his severe ankle injury in mid-January, according to a source.

Rubio has missed 24 games with a severely sprained left ankle he suffered on Nov. 7 at Orlando.

Rubio, who averaged 9.4 points, 10 assists and 5.6 rebounds in five games this season, could participate in contract drills next week.

"I am trying to do my best," Rubio said. "Sometimes it is a little bit painful. I got to get through that. Some things are mentally [challenging]. I just push myself and try to come back as soon as a I can.

"It's painful seeing them struggling some games. But we're young. …We didn't know that three of our best players would go down. It's hard when 20-, 19-year-old kids have to take 40 minutes a game.

"It's a process. They have to learn. Being a rookie is hard. Being a rookie playing 40 minutes a game is even harder. It's tough to adapt to the league."