Eto'o dreams of winning award

Eto'o scored 26 goals for Barcelona last season

Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o says he is dreaming of winning the European Football of the Year Award while recovering from knee surgery.

"At the moment it is obvious that if I were the fortunate chosen one, it would fill me with pride and joy," Eto'o told France Football magazine on Tuesday.

"But I am not the only one to want it," he added, predicting that the competition would be "very tight."

For the prestigious vote by European soccer journalists, whose winner will be announced next month, Eto'o is up against the likes of Brazil and Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, the 2005 winner, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

"I think about Titi (Henry), who's dreaming about it," said Eto'o when asked for his favourites.

"There are also my Barca team-mates and the Italians."

Eto'o, who underwent surgery to repair a torn cartilage in his right knee last month, is expected to remain out of action for another four months.

The Cameroonian said he chose to preserve the cartilage over the possibility of a quicker recovery in the short term.

"I had the choice of removing it or sewing it up," he said.

"I opted for the latter. I am still young, my body is healthy, I am on good form, I am eager to make the most of my team-mates to the maximum."

The Cameroon international, 25, suffered the injury in a Champions League match against Werder Bremen in September.

Eto'o said he hoped his season prior to his injury would be reviewed and taken into consideration for the award.

He was top scorer in the Spanish League with 26 goals and was instrumental in Barcelona's triumphant Champions League campaign.