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Pellegrini suggested earlier this week that his captain, who has been ruled out with yet another calf problem since Boxing Day, could return "for the last part of the season" when discussing the fitness of his players.
But in his Friday press briefing the Chilean said he did not remember making such a claim and that he fully expects the Belgian to return by March, even if he could not put his finger on the exact nature of the current problem.
“I don’t think I said until the last part of the season," he said. "I said that he has a long recovery, that he will not be ready in two weeks.
It was put to Pellegrini that the Belgium medical staff are confident Kompany will be able to play for them in the next international fixtures, coming up at the end of March.
But it came as a shock to the City boss that anybody had expected his captain to be out for so long.
"I also think he will be ready before the next international break - it's not until the end of March. Vincent will hope he can be back for the end of February," he added.
"He has one month more. We don't know what will happen but if he's able to play here then of course he should go with his international squad."
Kompany released an emotional statement in the immediate aftermath of his third separate calf injury of the season, bemoaning his bad luck and vowing to "fight to get what I deserve, my best years in football".
And Pellegrini revealed the 29-year-old is doing all he can to ensure he gets fit and stays fit.
“He is very concerned, which is why he’s trying to recover as soon as he can," the trainer concluded.
"He’s doing all different examinations to try to understand the reasons why he is having so many injuries.
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