Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said on Sunday that he expects to return in January from his back injury.

"I think by January I should be ready to go again," he said.

Buffon was replaced after the first half of Italy's opening World Cup match against Paraguay with a herniated disk and never returned as the defending champion exited at the group stage without a single victory. He then had surgery in July.

Buffon will become the Azzurri captain when he returns, since Fabio Cannavaro retired from the national team after the World Cup.