Cristiano Ronaldo remains on course to resume full training with his Real Madrid team-mates later this week after undergoing further tests on his troublesome ankle.

The world's most expensive player has missed Madrid's last nine matches due to the injury that also ruled him out of both of Portugal's World Cup play-off matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but he is closing in on a return to action.

Having taken part in ball work yesterday and earlier today, Ronaldo underwent more tests, after which the Spanish giants tonight confirmed the 24-year-old would continue his planned recovery until Friday, when he could return to training with his team-mates.

As part of today's tests, Ronaldo was examined by Professor Niek van Dijk, the Dutch specialist who operated on the former Manchester United man's right ankle in the summer of 2008 and was also consulted by the Portuguese winger in Amsterdam a fortnight ago.

Madrid did not announce when Ronaldo might be able to play again.

On Saturday, Manuel Pellegrini's side face Racing Santander at the Bernabeu, before hosting FC Zurich in the Champions League next Wednesday and then travelling to Barcelona for 'El Clasico' the following weekend.

Ronaldo first sustained the problem during the Champions League match against Marseille on September 30 and then aggravated it while playing for Portugal against Hungary.