Long wait over as Ballack returns to training
Sunday, 28 October 2007
BERLIN, Oct 27 (AFP): German captain Michael Ballack is back in training with Chelsea, six months after the midfielder first damaged his ankle playing for the English giants.
Much has changed at Stamford Bridge since Ballack, 31, injured his ankle in the Premier League clash with Newcastle United on April 22 - coach Jose Mourinho has departed and they lost last season's title race to Manchester United.
And in his absence, Germany made sure of their Euro 2008 place with a 0-0 draw against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin earlier this month.
But Ballack was at Chelsea's training ground in Cobham on Friday doing some light skills and fitness work, so a return to full training is on the horizon.
"I am back kicking a ball again," Ballack told German tabloid Bild.
"For the moment I am still training alone, but I assume I will be able to play again this year."
It has been a long road back for the German captain who had an ankle operation on his left ankle on April 27 and then needed a further op in July, which held up his recovery.
There is a chance Ballack will be fit for Germany's two remaining Euro 2008 qualifying games against Cyprus on November 17 and Wales on November 22.
Reports in the German media last week implied Ballack would not be playing again until the new year, but the midfielder rubbished reports on Wednesday night in an interview on cable channel Premier.
Much has changed at Stamford Bridge since Ballack, 31, injured his ankle in the Premier League clash with Newcastle United on April 22 - coach Jose Mourinho has departed and they lost last season's title race to Manchester United.
And in his absence, Germany made sure of their Euro 2008 place with a 0-0 draw against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin earlier this month.
But Ballack was at Chelsea's training ground in Cobham on Friday doing some light skills and fitness work, so a return to full training is on the horizon.
"I am back kicking a ball again," Ballack told German tabloid Bild.
"For the moment I am still training alone, but I assume I will be able to play again this year."
It has been a long road back for the German captain who had an ankle operation on his left ankle on April 27 and then needed a further op in July, which held up his recovery.
There is a chance Ballack will be fit for Germany's two remaining Euro 2008 qualifying games against Cyprus on November 17 and Wales on November 22.
Reports in the German media last week implied Ballack would not be playing again until the new year, but the midfielder rubbished reports on Wednesday night in an interview on cable channel Premier.