Roma captain Francesco Totti is on track for a quick recovery from a broken leg and will be fit for Italy's World Cup campaign, the doctor who operated on him said Wednesday.
"I'm very optimistic that Francesco will be back for the World Cup," Dr Pierpaolo Mariani said after Totti's first appearance without crutches at Rome's training camp Tuesday. "I know his physical and mental capabilities. He will make it to the World Cup".
Totti was cheered by team-mates and fans as he strolled around Roma's training camp Tuesday - and even kicked a stray ball with his good right leg. Roma coach Luciano Spalletti told reporters he was "moved" to see Totti walking without crutches just 30 days after his operation on a broken left leg and strained ankle ligaments.
"I think Francesco will be back for the end of the championship," he said. The Italy star himself said on his website: "It was great to get back on the field. I don't know exactly when I'll be back but I hope to play at the end of the season".
Roma's last Serie A game is against AC Milan on May 14, a day before the Italy squad for Germany 2006 is announced. Totti has reportedly lost one and a half centimetres of muscle on his left calf since the February 19 injury against Empoli.
But Dr Mariani said: "That's nothing. You have to remember he spent a month laid up. For a player like him it's not a factor that can cause anxiety". At the moment Totti is doing about six hours of physiotherapy a day and is expected to start jogging in a
matter of days. Germany 2006 starts on June 9 and runs till July 9.
If he keeps up his current recovery rate, the 29-year-old could even be back before the Milan match, giving him a few weeks to regain match fitness for what would probably be his last chance to shine on the international stage.
Totti has urged his team-mates to get to the Italian Cup Final so he can play in one of the legs, May 3 and 11. Roma play Palermo on Wednesday night in the Cup semi-final first leg. If they beat the Sicilians they'll face either holders Inter or Udinese, who also play their first leg Wednesday evening.
