Cannavaro sets sights on return to action

Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro admits he is itching for a return to action having spent the last few months sidelined with an ankle injury.

The veteran defender needed an operation after damaging ankle ligaments whilst training with Italy prior to Euro 2008, ruling him out of the tournament and out of Madrid's pre-season programme.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the World Cup-winning captain after he returned to squad training for the first time with his Madrid team-mates on Wednesday.

It is not yet known when the 34-year-old will be able to play competitively again, but Cannavaro hopes is it soon.

'I am eager to return because missing the European Championships has left a sour taste in the mouth,' he told www.realmadrid.com. 'I want to return, to rejoin the team, and above all to win more titles.'

He added: 'It has been a strange summer because I have had to train. I stayed in Naples and in the morning I was with a physio and in the afternoon I enjoyed time with my family.'