AC Milan and champions Inter Milan to welcome back key players

The four footballers are expected to make their season debuts as the Italian Serie A stages its eighth round on October 21.

 Muscle injuries have grounded Materazzi, 34, and the 31-year-olds Ronaldo and Vieira, while Maldini, 39, underwent knee surgery in the summer.

 "We hope to put an end to Ronaldo's calvary after the break so to see him on the pitch on October 21," said Milan vice president Adriano Galliani.

 The Brazilian has stuck to an intense personalized training programme since pulling a thigh muscle on July 31, kicking a ball during a meeting with the Devils' fans.

 His goals, he notched seven in 14 games since he arrived from Real Madrid last January, are much needed for the European champions as they lag seven points from their leading city rivals.

 Maldini is likely to be used mostly in Milan's defence of their Champions League title.

 Inter, meanwhile, can only benefit from the return of Materazzi and the French midfielder, who look to further strengthen a defence package that conceded only five goals in seven games.

 Injuries have been a big issue this season for Roma, lying joint second with Juventus three points behind Inter.

 International midfielder Simone Perrotta, who hurt his knee at the weekend, is the last in a list of 13 players sidelined for Roma since the summer.

 Brazilian Mancini and Alberto Aquilani, both international midfielders, won't be back for at least a month.

DPA