ROMA captain Francesco Totti already has his eye on a swift return to football hours after an operation on his right knee on Sunday afternoon.
Totti was substituted in the 39th minute of his team's 1-1 draw at home to Livorno on Saturday night with a recurrence of a cruciate ligament problem.
The 31-year-old, who retired from international football in July last year to focus on his club commitments, underwent surgery at Rome's Villa Stuart hospital and is expected to be sidelined for six months.
That prognosis would rule him out of the beginning of next year's campaign, but his physical trainer, Vito Scala, revealed Totti is targeting Roma's opening game of the 2007/08 season for a possible comeback.
"Francesco has woken up, he is full of life and already joking," said Scala said.
"He told me that he is already working and is focused on the future and to return to the pitch as soon as possible.
"He is already working with the Kinetech (a machine used for muscular rehabilitation) and tonight he will watch Internazionale's game."
Totti is no stranger to serious injuries after a major fracture in his lower fibula in February 2006, which left him with a metal plate in his ankle.
But the World Cup winner returned to win the European Golden Boot the following year.
Totti is Roma's top scorer this campaign with 14 goals in 24 appearances and surgeon Pierpaolo Mariani is confident he can return to football sooner than expected.
"The injury was a partial break to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, with a small meniscal tear," said Mariani after operating on the talismanic striker.
"We replaced the cruciate, instead of rebuilding it, with a part of the tendon and stitched up the part separated from the meniscus.
"The operation lasted an hour and the expectations are good."
He added: "Totti was able to move the limb right away, moreover we all know his desire and also his strength - has has had other operations.
"He is trusting and calm. I will entrust his care to the rehabilitation staff in a month, so we'll say that a return to the pitch in four months could be possible.
"Totti will return as he was before and I don't have any negative feelings about that."
The 31-year-old, who retired from international football in July last year to focus on his club commitments, underwent surgery at Rome's Villa Stuart hospital and is expected to be sidelined for six months.
That prognosis would rule him out of the beginning of next year's campaign, but his physical trainer, Vito Scala, revealed Totti is targeting Roma's opening game of the 2007/08 season for a possible comeback.
"Francesco has woken up, he is full of life and already joking," said Scala said.
"He told me that he is already working and is focused on the future and to return to the pitch as soon as possible.
"He is already working with the Kinetech (a machine used for muscular rehabilitation) and tonight he will watch Internazionale's game."
Totti is no stranger to serious injuries after a major fracture in his lower fibula in February 2006, which left him with a metal plate in his ankle.
But the World Cup winner returned to win the European Golden Boot the following year.
Totti is Roma's top scorer this campaign with 14 goals in 24 appearances and surgeon Pierpaolo Mariani is confident he can return to football sooner than expected.
"The injury was a partial break to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, with a small meniscal tear," said Mariani after operating on the talismanic striker.
"We replaced the cruciate, instead of rebuilding it, with a part of the tendon and stitched up the part separated from the meniscus.
"The operation lasted an hour and the expectations are good."
He added: "Totti was able to move the limb right away, moreover we all know his desire and also his strength - has has had other operations.
"He is trusting and calm. I will entrust his care to the rehabilitation staff in a month, so we'll say that a return to the pitch in four months could be possible.
"Totti will return as he was before and I don't have any negative feelings about that."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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