Czech Republic striker Jan Koller is on track to play in the World Cup finals after making his return from a serious knee injury for Borussia Dortmund's reserves on Sunday.

The 33-year-old had been sidelined since September after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in the 1-1 draw at Mainz on September 24 and was expected to be ruled out until the start of next season.

However, he was able to play 45 minutes of Borussia's second-string's 1-0 win against LR Ahlen and now hopes to be back in first-team action before the end of the Bundesliga season.

"I want to be back in the squad for the (Eintracht) Frankfurt game in a week and play against (Bayern) Munich on the final day of the season," he said.

The news will come as a major relief for Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner, who also has injury doubts about Bordeaux midfielder Vladimir Smicer, Ajax defender Zdenek Grygera and striker Vratislav Lokvenc of Red Bull Salzburg.