Cameroon`s Samuel Eto`o is recovering from his right knee injury quicker than expected and should be back in training in mid-January.
The Barcelona striker wasn`t expected to return until February after tearing and displacing the meniscus during a Champions League game at Werder Bremen on 27 September.
"Eto`o is improving faster than predicted. He is a great athlete," Barcelona doctor Ramon Cugat said on Saturday.
However, Cugat also urged caution.
"We shouldn`t celebrate too early. The meniscus requires great respect," he added.
The Cameroon international, who hopes to play against Liverpool on 21 February and 6 March in the second round of the
Champions League, has missed 19 of the European and Spanish champion`s games.
Without him, Barcelona struggled in the Champions League and has dropped to second place behind Sevilla in the Spanish league.
Eto`o, who has been Africa`s top player in the last three seasons and was nominated for this year`s award, has scored 68 goals for Barcelona since arriving from Mallorca in 2004.
He had 26 last season to be the Spanish league`s top scorer.
Barcelona has other injury concerns.
Forward Lionel Messi and defender Lilian Thuram are not expected back until February, while defender Gianluca Zambrotta should be playing again in late January.
