Rafael Nadal for December return

Rafael Nadal is expected to make his long-awaited return to tennis before the end of the year.

The Spaniard has not played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June.

Nadal said last week that although he would like to return at the Mubadala exhibition tournament, he may yet miss the Australian Open.

Organisers of the tournament in Abu Dhabi have said that Nadal will join a field including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer.

The tournament runs from December 27 to December 29.