Ballack targets return this year

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The midfielder has not played since April because of an ankle problem which has so far required two operations.

Ballack has not played for Chelsea this season

The Premier League side have been working closely with Germany's medical team in a bid to get the international back to full fitness.

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

"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."

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old dismissed any talk of a move away from Stamford Bridge.

He added: "Why should I leave? I never said I was unhappy at Chelsea.

"It's nobody's fault that I am injured. The break will be over and things will continue."