Alessandro Nesta said Thursday he hoped to be back in action for AC Milan ''in a month'' after a long-term back injury some said might end his career.
Nesta has been in Miami since the start of November to have treatment on the injury, which has kept him out since July.
Speaking at Milan's Linate Airport, the former Italy defender said he was ''happy'' with the work he had done in Florida, strengthening back muscles and treating a hernia.
Asked when he might be back on the field, he replied: ''Soon, I think, a month at the most. But I need to put in more physical work. I haven't played for eight months and I need to see how my body reacts''.
He said he had not been ''bothered'' by rumours he would not play again but acknowledged that ''there was that risk, and I don't know if there will be again''.
Nesta, 32, has played 199 times for Milan since joining them from Lazio in 2002 and is on contract with the club until 2012.
Pundits say he has been badly missed by Milan this season, with a vulnerability to set-piece balls exposed.
The central defender has been dogged by injury in recent years.
He missed most of the 2006-2007 season with a shoulder injury but still played a vital part in the European Champions League Final win over Liverpool that year.
Nesta retired from international football after winning the 2006 World Cup, where his contribution was curtailed by an injury in the group match against the Czech Republic.
Roberto Donadoni unsuccessfully tried to coax him out of retirement for Euro 2008.
He played for Italy 78 times.
