I´ll be back in a month, predicts Nesta

Injured AC Milan centre-back Alessandro Nesta returned on Thursday from a two-month stay in Miami to say he hoped to be back playing for the club in a month.

Nesta travelled to Florida in early November to see a specialist about a back problem that has been troubling him since July.

The 32-year-old has yet to play for Milan this season and he has been sorely missed in an ageing rearguard that has often been exposed.

But now the former Lazio defender is ready to return to training at Milan’s Milanello complex.

“I’m going to Milanello to start working and when I’m ready, I’ll play,” he said upon his return at Milan’s Linate airport.

He admitted there was a chance that his career would be over but said he was not thinking about that.

“That was a risk and I don’t know if it still is. On that score I don’t have any problems, I’m worrying about other things,” he said.

“I was in pain for a long time but now I’m taking things more seriously. I saw it was possible to go somewhere else, I’ve worked hard and the back has been well rested.

“All I need now is to get back on the pitch, that will be the ultimate test.

“I can’t wait to get back but I want to do so in a good condition, at my best.

“When? Soon I think, maximum one month but I need to work hard physically, I haven’t played for eight months and we’ll see how I react physically.”

Nesta was part of the Italy squad that won the World Cup in 2006 and has played 78 times for his country.

He has won the Champions League twice with Milan and Serie A once each with Milan and Lazio.