Vieira close to Inter return

Inter's Patrick Vieira could return from his injury in time for the Italian Cup final in May.

Patrick Vieira has announced that his recovery from his knee tendonitis problems is going well and he could be back in action for Internazionale in time for the Italian Cup final in May.

But he has admitted he is still suffering pain and will only return when he feels it is best for him.

The France midfielder has been out of action since February and will undergo a scan in mid-April to assess his progress.

"I feel much better now," he told L'Equipe. "I have completed the first rehabilitation programme in Lyon and I am resuming individual training sessions on Wednesday.

"I still have pain because tendonitis trouble takes a long time to cure. I will have an MRI scan on 16th April to see if it healed well.

"I have not set myself a date to return, because I want to give myself the best chance of recovery. The Italian Cup is in May and France have two matches in June: those are my aims, so I can recover without being under pressure.

"If I suffer a relapse, I could require another three or four months to recover."

Vieira knows that he will not simply be able to walk straight back into the Inter side when he does return, however, as the team possesses many important players.

And he believes that other teams in Serie A need to improve to challenge his side as the competition is currently 'weak'.

"We are 30 international players keen to play. You can remain on the bench even if your name is Vieira, Materazzi, Figo etc.

"As with Lyon, we have dominated our league, but because the other teams have been weak. Lyon and Inter's challengers have not been equal to the situation."