KAMEN, Germany, June 8 - Spain midfielder Xavi says that he is now back to full fitness on the eve of the World Cup after missing five months of the season because of a serious knee injury.

"On a personal level I've noted a big improvement in the knee in the last couple of weeks and now I can say that it is perfect," the Barcelona playmaker told a news conference on Thursday.

"Before I had some pain in the tendon but now it's gone completely. All I needed was some match practice and I've got that from the three friendly games we've played in the last two weeks."

Xavi, who was one of Barcelona's most influential players in the early part of the season, tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee during training at the beginning of December.

He managed to play a handful of matches for the Spanish champions at the tail-end of the season, but remained on the bench in Barcelona's victory over Arsenal in the final of the Champions League.

But the 26-year-old said he was now desperate to play a part in Spain's World Cup campaign.

"We've played three friendlies and we've conceded just one goal and that was an own goal so we are obviously going well and like the rest of the team I'm really looking forward to it."

Spain play Ukraine in their first Group H match on June 14 and then face Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.