Cote d'ivoire captain Didier Drogba has returned to training on Thursday just days after surgery on a broken arm and may play the opening World Cup match for his country against Portugal on June 15, Xinhua reported.
Drogba had surgery Saturday on a broken arm sustained in a friendly against Japan last Friday, casting doubt over his availability for the World Cup.
The 32-year-old Drogba wore a light protective cast on his arm during practice on Thursday, raising coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's hopes the Chelsea striker will be fit for Tuesday's Group G match at Port Elizabeth.
"If the match had been today or tomorrow, he wouldn't be able to play," Eriksson says. "But it's in a few days. He might play."