Former Italian soccer international Roberto Baggio is reported closer to a surprise comeback after getting his cruciate knee ligaments ruptured in January.

　　But Italian national team coach Giovanni Trapattoni said on Wednesday that Baggio's early return doesn't mean he can earn a place in Italy's World Cup squad.

　　"He's been out for a long time and nature must take its course.

　　I can't take risks and I couldn't possibly rely on him," Trapattoni said.

　　Baggio, 35, injured his ligaments during Brescia's Italian Cup game with Parma at the end of January and was expected to be out for six to nine months.

　　However, Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone has showed his confidence that Baggio will be on the pitch sooner rather than later. "In a week Baggio could return to the Brescia team," said Mazzone, whose side are facing an anxious battle to avoid relegation from Serie A.

　　Baggio, who played in the last three World Cups and made his mark at the 1990 tournament on home soil with fine individual strikes before leading Italy to the third place, was pictured training in Wednesday's Italian sports newspapers.