Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti has declared himself fit for tomorrow night's Serie A clash with Livorno, insisting that he is ready for his first competitive outing since April.
Zanetti has spent the past seven months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon towards the end of April, putting the future of his playing career into question at the age of 40.
The Argentine defender has now recovered and believes that he still has plenty to offer at the San Siro, but admits that he faces a challenge for regular first-team football under Walter Mazzarri.
He told reporters: "I feel good and I hope to have the chance to play against Livorno.
"I need to rediscover my best form, but I don't expect anything because my teammates are doing well. I'll be available for selection and that's already a great result.
"I'm thinking about what I was hoping for after my operation, to come back for at least one game, and I hope it's more than one."
The 40-year-old's current deal expires at the end of this season, with the versatile defender likely to end an Inter career which began in 1995 next summer.