Napoli's Milik cleared to return after rapid knee recovery

Milan - Napoli striker Arkaduisz Milik has been given the all-clear to train with the Serie A side again after making a rapid recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

"Yes! I can start training with the team again! I'm very happy and can't wait to get back to the pitch," Milik wrote in a message on Twitter underneath a photo of himself and Napoli medical staff.

With four goals in seven league games, Poland international Milik made a lightning start to his Napoli career after joining the club from Ajax as the replacement for Juventus-bound Gonzalo Higuain.

But Milik's new career shuddered to a halt barely six weeks later, when he tore the ACL in his knee while on international duty on Oct. 8.

Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri drafted attacking midfielder Dries Mertens in to the central striker's role and he has done so well, scoring 11 league goals in 17 appearances including back-to-back hat tricks last month, that Milik might have to wait to be given his first competitive start back.

Milik was expected to be out for six months and surprised doctors with his rapid progress, although he is not expected to play for at least another week or two.

A message from Napoli on Twitter said: "Arek has recovered! He can now get back to training with the squad. Welcome back."

Napoli, which sits third in Serie A at seven points behind leader Juventus, hosts Pescara on Sunday.