Juventus defender Jorge Andrade is recovering well from his broken kneecap and has targeted a February return.

The Portuguese international picked up the serious injury against Roma back in September and it was initially feared that he would be ruled out for six months.

But Andrade has told Juventus TV that his recovery is going ahead of schedule. The 29-year-old said: "I'm a lot better now. I'm working to build up the muscle and now the knee seems almost healthy.

"I have worked hard over the last three months and I have work ahead, but I'm happy because I know that I will return better."

The former Porto played said club doctors had suggested February as a possible return date. Andrade added: There's no hurry as I want to take as long as I need to come back and be useful to the side. The lads are doing well in my absence and I can only offer them my compliments.

One player who will not be joining Juventus, currently second in Serie A, is Slovak midfielder Marek Hamsik. Press reports this week linked the Napoli star to a move to the Old Lady, but the Partenopei's sporting director has ruled out any move for the player, who joined in the summer from Brescia.

"Nobody is touching Hamsik," Pierpaolo Marino told Radio Kiss Kiss on Wednesday. "Everything that has been written in the newspapers is without grounds.

"There is no meeting with the Bianconeri and they are just another club who might be interested in our players."

Sports daily Tuttosport had reported that Hamsik would arrive at Turin in return for a cash deal involving in-form Chilean striker Marcelo Zalayeta.

Pierpaolo also confirmed that Napoli were ready to part company with former Chelsea and Milan midfielder Samuele Dalla Bona in the January transfer window.

FL / Eurosport