Argentina's Coach Jose Pekerman is in Europe for meetings with his European based players. In a positive development for Pekerman's team, Valencia's defender Roberto Ayala will return to action sooner than anticipated.

The Argentinean Coach is also expected to watch various European matches involving candidate players for Argentina's World Cup Finals Squad. Most Argentinean players play in Italy and Spain.

Pekerman's three main worries are Valencia's Roberto Ayala, who is not currently playing due to a knee injury, and Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze who is also injured and not certain when he will return to action, and Javier Mascherano who plays for Corinthians in the Brazilian League and is also injured.

Manchester United's Coach Alex Ferguson said that he doesn't believe Heinze will make it to the World Cup back in December, after Heinze sustained cruciate knee ligament damage during a Champions League match back in September. He had to undergo surgery and still it's not clear when he will be able to return to action.

Valencia's Roberto Ayala said in a press conference that he is getting better with his recovery from a knee surgery. "I'm feeling good and more relaxed after the operation because it showed that the knee was in good shape," the 32-year-old international said.

"They cleaned out what was causing me the pain and I'm making excellent progress. I don't want to put myself under pressure but I think that I should be available for selection in March."

"I'm very upset about not playing especially as the Club have improved. I'm not thinking about the World Cup, but rather about playing and performing well for the Club."

Prior to his departure from the Ezeiza international airport, Jose Pekerman said that 6-months before the World Cup 2006 kicks-off, his team needs to take all the necessary precautions.

Pekerman is troubled with his team, especially for the disappointing appearance in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. Argentina did not manage to progress to the second stage, in one of the worst appearances in recent years.

Argentina is seeded in what is regarded as the toughest group of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with Ivory Coast, the Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro.

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