May 24, 2002

NAHARA, Japan (AP) -- Glasgow Rangers forward Claudio Caniggia should be fit for selection within three days, having recovered from a knee injury that doctors thought would rule him out of the World Cup, Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa said Friday.

"The team is evolving in a favorable fashion," Bielsa told a press conference at Argentina's J-Village training camp in eastern Japan. "The two players -- Caniggia and (Matias) Almeyda -- who are not yet fully fit will have totally recovered in three days' time."

Caniggia, 35, didn't play in Argentina's impressive qualifying campaign, but got a late callup by Bielsa and could stake a claim for a place on the right wing. He picked up a knee injury in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

With lightning pace and a good playing relationship with Diego Maradona, Caniggia starred in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, knocking the hosts out of the competition with a winning goal. But his career then nose-dived after FIFA banned him for drug abuse.

He joined Rangers last season, and some impressive performances led to an international callup in February -- his first in six years.