Brazilian striker Ronaldo will return within a month from the knee injury that he picked up in February, his physio Bruno Mazziotti said on Monday.

Ronaldo, who is without a club, has been undergoing a rehabilitation programme at Brazilian soccer team Flamengo since August.

"The prediction depends on many factors but we think that, within one month or maybe less, he will be able to play again," Mazziotti told the local Sportv cable channel.

"He is in the final stage of the recovery."

Ronaldo, who helped Brazil to the World Cup triumph in 2002, ruptured a tendon in his left knee during the Italian Serie A game for AC Milan against Livorno.

The problem was similar to two injuries he sustained to his right knee earlier in his career.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2008)