Ronaldo suffers thigh injury

Ronaldo has suffered a thigh injury in the second appearance of his comeback after 17 months out after a knee operation his club Inter Milan said on Thursday.

Inter said on their official website that the Brazilian, twice World Player of the Year, suffered a "light strain to his right thigh" in the final minutes of Inter's 3-0 UEFA Cup second-leg win in Romania against FC Brasov.

Franco Combi, head of Inter's medical team said Ronaldo's comeback programme would not be affected.

"There is nothing to worry about. Naturally we would have preferred if a situation like this had not presented itself, but the time needed to recover from an injury like this will not influence the recuperation programme we already have in place for Ronaldo," said Combi.

Ronaldo said he was sure he would recover quickly from the injury.

"It is a real shame that I got this little injury because I was feeling very good and had started off with the right sort of determination," said the Brazilian.

"I believe however that I will be fine within a short time, ready to continue with the recuperation programme that has been set out for me," added Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has been called up for Brazil's game against Chile in October and said that he would still team up with his national side even if he was not fit.

"I have the impression that this will not change my response to the call-up, even if the Brazil medical staff probably send me straight back to Milan," said Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's 30-minute appearance in the first-leg of the tie against Brasov last week was his first competitive game after he ruptured knee ligaments in the Italian Cup final in April 2000.

Ronaldo came on as a substitute on Thursday and played 40 minutes in the second half.