Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he'll be ready to return from a back injury in January.
Buffon tells Italy's Sky TV, "I think by January I should be ready to go again."
Buffon had to be replaced after the first half of Italy's opening World Cup match against Paraguay with a herniated disk and never returned as the defending champion exited at the group stage without a single victory. He then had surgery in July.
Bologna's 24-year-old keeper Emiliano Viviano has been filling in for Buffon with Italy, keeping a clean sheet in his first two starts, while Marco Storari has replaced him at Juventus.
When he does return, Buffon will become the Azzurri captain, since Fabio Cannavaro retired from the national team after the World Cup.
