Michael Ballack facing extended spell on sidelines
Michael Ballack is facing a lengthy spell out of action after suffering a shin injury in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga with Hannover.
The veteran midfielder had originally been given a return date in six weeks, but it now looks likely that the former Chelsea man will be on the sidelines until the turn of the year.
Bayer’s head coach Jupp Heynckes told Kicker that a scan had revealed the damage was more extensive than first believed — Ballack has sufferd a fractured tibia — and that any hopes the 33-year-old would return to action before 2011 were very optimistic.
Hannover midfielder Sergio Pinto, who was involved in the clash which caused Ballack’s injury, told SPOX that: “Of course I am sorry that Ballack is injured and is now out for longer. However, I cannot pull back from a tackle, just because it is Ballack.”
International future at risk
The injury has cast doubt over the player’s international future. He had been left out of Germany’s squad for the UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying wins over Azerbaijan and Belgium and he will be ruled out of the next two qualifiers against Turkey and Kazakhstan.
National team coach Joachim Loew had promised that Ballack would reclaim his captain status whe he returned to full fitness, but it remains to be seen for how much longer Loew will consider the midfielder for the national team.
However, Loew said that Ballack, who missed out on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with a ligament tear, will remain in his plans for the time being. He told Bild that he hoped Ballack would be fit again soon and said that: "I feel sorry for Michael that he must accept a new health setback. Of course I wish him a speedy recovery."
Tags: