Fabio Cannavaro is back in action this weekend and could return for Italy’s World Cup qualifiers in September.
The 2006 Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year has been sidelined since fracturing his ankle during a training session just days before the start of Euro 2008.
He was expected to be out for considerably longer, but is already heading back to the playing field this weekend.
Cannavaro has been named in Real Madrid’s squad for the Spanish Super Cup clash with Valencia.
It is a major boost for the Azzurri, who showed real defensive frailties during Marcello Lippi’s debut, a 2-2 draw with Austria on Wednesday night.
Andrea Barzagli and Daniele Bonera did not forge a solid central defensive partnership, while Giorgio Chiellini is out until October and Marco Materazzi is also sidelined.
Italy begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign in Cyprus on September 6 and then return to the peninsula against Georgia on September 10.
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