Ballack expects to play in 2007

Chelsea midfielder finally pain-free after ankle injury

By Andrew Scurr   Last updated: 25th October 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ballack expects to play in 2007

Ballack: Close to return

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Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is confident of making his first appearance of the season this year.

The Germany international has been sidelined since April with an ankle injury and he has twice gone under the knife.

But Ballack has revealed he is now almost free from pain and should be back in action before the end of 2007.

"It looks good for my comeback. I expect that I will be fit again and be playing this year," he told Germany's Premiere TV.

"The problem was that I was told the injury would take three or four weeks so I kept working towards my comeback every week and waited for the pain to ease. That took a while.

"It is always frustrating for a player if you don't know when the injury is healed. But I am thinking positive right now because the pain is almost gone."

Staying put

Meanwhile, the former Bayern Munich star has again rejected suggestions he could depart Stamford Bridge.

"Why should I leave? I never said I was unhappy at Chelsea," Ballack said. "It's nobody's fault that I am injured. The break will be over and things will continue."