Fadiga may be in action in early February

Senegalese international Khalilou Fadiga could soon be given the all-clear to return to full training after responding well to treatment for a heart condition.

The Inter Milan midfielder has not played football since signing for the Italian club in July 2003 after club doctors raised concerns about the player's irregular heartbeat.

Yet cardiologist Fulvio Bellocci said Fadiga's health is improving and that he could be back on the pitch within three weeks.

"We visited Fadiga and he is clearly better," Bellocci told the Italian sport daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He has not completely recovered but he can start some light training.

"Then at the end of January and the first few days of February we will carry out further checks which will decide whether he is fit enough to take part in competitive sport."

Fadiga joined Inter from Auxerre after playing more than 50 games for the French first division club last season.

The 29-year-old made his name in Belgium with Bruges before joining Auxerre in September 2000.

He signed a three-year contract with Inter in 2003 after Auxerre accepted an offer of US $3.8 million dollars for the midfielder.

Fadiga was instrumental in leading Senegal to the final of the 2002 Nations Cup as well as to the quarter-finals of that year's World Cup.

Yet the midfielder's agent announced last November that Fadiga's heart problems would prevent him from playing for the Teranga Lions at Tunisia 2004.