"He is working hard in training and achieving an acceptable level of fitness. He has lost a lot of weight but there is still a little more to come off before he can return to be the player everyone knows," Capello told a news conference.

"If a player isn't in good shape he won't play. Everyone thinks they look good in the mirror in the morning but I watch how they perform in training. He will get games but he needs to be fit."

Capello was responding to an interview with Ronaldo in the Spanish press on Friday, where the Brazilian international spoke about his frustration at his lack of first team opportunities.

Ronaldo underwent a minor operation on his left knee after the World Cup finals and missed the start of the season.

But since then he has only played 100 minutes in the league and the Champions League, and has yet to score a goal or start a game in those competitions.

"I don't know what the criteria are to win a place in the starting line-up. I am in very good shape, with my weight and everything. What I have to do is to try to prove it," said Ronaldo.

"Capello doesn't have faith in me at the moment. If he did, he would have played me more."

Ronaldo is in the Real squad to face Celta Vigo in the Bernabeu on Sunday.