AS Roma skipper Francesco Totti was back running Monday after a pre-Christmas thigh injury, meaning he could be back on the field earlier than expected.
Totti completed a few laps of Roma's training track with his personal trainer, the Roman club said
The club said the iconic striker was now aiming to be back by the end of January.
It was initially feared he would be out until the end of the following month, and was said to be ''extremely doubtful'' for the first leg of Roma's Champions League last-16 clash with Arsenal on February 24.
Totti injured his right thigh in a 3-2 defeat at Catania just before the winter break.
Some pundits reckoned his departure from the pitch spelled the end of Roma's eight-match winning streak.
The Romans' run, fueled by Totti's return to fitness, lifted them from near the relegation zone to 10th and helped them climb from the bottom to the top of their Champions League group.
In their first match without Totti on Sunday night, Roma drew 2-2 against an AC Milan side featuring David Beckham.
