Yao back in Rockets' line-up after injury

LOS ANGELES - HOUSTON Rockets centre Yao Ming was cleared to play yesterday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Yao broke his right leg on Dec 23 in a collision with Tim Thomas and teammate Chuck Hayes during a National Basketball Association game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

In a story from Cleveland posted on their website, the Chronicle said Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones and general manager Carroll Dawson had said that Yao would be on the active roster for yesterday's game.

Coach Jeff Van Gundy had said that the Chinese superstar would start as soon as doctors gave the green light.

Van Gundy told the paper on Friday: 'When they say he can play, I'm playing him.'

That go-ahead came on Sunday, after Yao went through a morning work-out attended by team doctor Tom Clanton and test results were examined by specialist doctor Brian Cole in Chicago.

'His work-outs have been tremendous,' Dawson told the Chronicle.

'They were kind of blown away. Clanton was really impressed.

'So we're going ahead as scheduled. He will be on the active list.'

Yao returns to a Houston team who have lost five of their past eight games, including a 74-97 defeat by San Antonio on Saturday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE