Ronaldo has appetite for thirty work

Real Madrid's Ronaldo (L) controls the ball during a Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev on September 26. Ronaldo has insisted that he can still get 30 goals this season.

Real Madrid's Brazilian superstar striker Ronaldo has insisted that he can still get 30 goals this season.

"I'm very confident that I can score 30 goals this season and I am still convinced I'm going to reach that target," Ronaldo said at a press conference.

The three-time World Footballer of the Year played his first minutes for Real this season, coming on as a late second half substitute in their 5-1 thrashing of Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.

His last game prior to his appearence against the Ukrainians was in Brazil's the World Cup quarter-final loss to France in late June and he only returned to full training earlier this month after a knee operation.

"The day the coach sees me playing 90 minutes he'll be convinced of what I am capable of. I'm dreaming of this moment when I can return to the starting lineup and score goals," added Ronaldo, who also turned 30 last week.

"I'm improving every day and every week I feel stronger and faster, little-by-little my stamina is improving."

He is rumoured to have also lost six kilogrammes from his portly frame in the last six weeks.

Ronaldo has twice been the top scorer in the Spanish first division, but injuries last season restricted him to just 14 goals in the league, his smallest tally since joining Real.

"It's a little too soon for me to play 90 minutes but it's a bit of luck that there are international fixtures coming up and I'm not involved, that means I can train flat out to try and be 100 per cent, like before."

Ronaldo also attempted to put to rest the rumours that he wanted to leave Real during the summer after four seasons with the Spanish giants.

Italians clubs Milan and Inter Milan made approaches to sign him, although he has two more years left on his contract at Real.

"When they (the Italian clubs) came to talk to me I said I didn't want to negotiate with any other club and nobody in the sports department at this club ever said they wanted to sell me," he said.

"The most important thing was being told by the sports department that they wanted me. (Real coach Fabio) Capello told me on a couple of occasions that he was counting on me and that was very valuable."

Ronaldo is almost certain to be on the bench again for Sunday's derby against local rivals Atletico Madrid but he is aiming to be back to full fitness by the time Real face play host to his old club Barcelona in the La Liga classic on October 22.