Eto'o tore ligaments in his right knee during his side's Champions League fixture with Werder Bremen in September and was due to be sidelined for five months.

But the club's medical service said that Eto'o can link up with his team mates two weeks into the New Year.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, who also had a foot injury, is set to return in the beginning of February.

The news is a big boost for coach Frank Rijkaard's squad before the knock-out stage of the Champions League.