Zidane eyeing swift recovery

Zinedine Zidane is desperately looking for a 'miracle' recovery from injury to enable him to play in France's friendly with Algeria on Saturday.

The Real Madrid superstar turned up for training with the national team on Thursday for the friendly with his family's country of origin and declared he was a doubtful starter for what is sure to be an emotional encounter for the Marseille-born star.

The 29-year-old playmaker, who scored his fourth league goal of the season on Wednesday but still ended up on the wrong end of a 4-2 hammering by Las Palmas, said he had a slight thigh strain which had been nagging him for a while.

The World Footballer of the Year said he hoped he would be fit for a match he was desperate to play in because of the blood ties.

"I hope the medical staff can work a miracle between now and Saturday because I can guarantee you I will feel my heart pounding should I make it on to the pitch," he said.

Zidane, who has not been able to return to Algeria in the past 15 years owing to the violent civil war, but has initiated several projects there for needy children living in the desert, admitted he has not been happy with his overall form since his £48million move to the Bernabeu from Juventus.

"I would prefer to be playing well rather than scoring goals," he added.

Zidane also suggested that if the French public expected an easy run out against the Algerians after the recent defeats to Chile and Denmark then they would be mistaken.

"The Algerians are a very gifted side artistically and technically and could give us some problems," he concluded.