Cristiano Ronaldo is targeting a dramatic return to action in time for Real Madrid's powderkeg "El Clasico" clash with arch rivals Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, November 29th.

The current FIFA World Player of the Year has been sidelined for over five weeks with a persistent ankle injury, which has forced him to sit out of Portugal's crucial World Cup play-off tie with Bosnia-Hercegovina this week.

He will return to see Dutch specialist Niek van Dijk, the man who has been assessing the injury over the last month, next week, and the former Manchester United ace is confident a return to action isn't far away.

"I'm not a doctor, but I can say that I'm feeling better all the time. I've already started to run and next week I hope to be with the squad, but we will have to wait to see what happens," he told The Guardian.

"I'm anxious because I cannot play and this is what I like most."

The 24-year-old added that he hoped he would make his comeback before the clash with Barca in order to regain match fitness, and is hopeful of lining up against Racing Santander and FC Zurich after the international break.

Meanwhile, CR9 again played down his 'saviour' tag following a sensational start to his Los Blancos career which saw him score nine goals in his first seven games as Manuel Pellegrini's men briefly made a 100 per cent start to this season.

"Everybody talks about this, but I've said several times that I'm not the saviour. I'm only a player who wants to help my team-mates and my team."

However, Real have struggled in his absence, having won just three games since he picked up his injury, and there is no doubt the Portuguese superstar would give his side a huge boost were he to return in time for the Barca showdown.