Cameroun captain Samuel Eto'o admitted yesterday that he needs a miracle if he is to shake off a right knee injury in time to play in tomorrow's World Cup Group A match against Croatia.

The 33-year-old striker played in Cameroun's 1-0 Group A defeat to Mexico last Friday, but he was not present at training at Vitoria, near Belo Horizonte, last Sunday.

“I am hoping God grant me a miracle and that I am able to defend my dear, beautiful country,” Eto'o told Cameroun Radio-Television (CRTV). “If this is not the case, I will always play my role as captain and especially as the big brother to push my young teammates to victory.

“For three-and-a-half months, I have not had the time to recover. You could see that even in the build-up to the World Cup I hadn't had a lot of practice until the friendly against Germany.”

He added: “During the first match of the World Cup against Mexico, I tried but after consulting the medical staff we realised that I needed a rest. Even in the ninth minute, I felt pain.”

Eto'o suffered a right knee injury at the end of his club season with Chelsea. “He didn't train last Saturday or Sunday,” said Cameroun coach Volker Finke.

After facing Croatia — beaten 3-1 by Brazil in their Group A opener — Cameroun will face the hosts on June 23.