Maltese football enthusiasts who might have still had a slight hope of watching Portuguese star striker Cristiano Ronaldo in action at the Ta' Qali Stadium on 6 September in a World Cup qualifier against Malta will certainly be disappointed.

It has now been confirmed that despite the Man United's return to training at Old Trafford, he will not be able to make a return to action on the playing field till late September.

The Red Devils winger underwent an operation earlier in the summer following the end of Portugal's Euro 2008 campaign.

He was initially ruled out for three months and Ferguson had been expecting Ronaldo to return to action at the start of October.

Over the past week Ronaldo has been involved in light training with the champions. Reports in England claimed that his recovery has been speeded up and he is now expected to be fit for the end of September.

"He's maybe a little bit ahead," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Sky Sports News.

"He's surprisingly good. He's been jogging all week, but it's only jogging, there's nothing serious about that."