Ballack to return next month

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The Chelsea midfielder has not played a competitive game for club or country this season due to injury, but has resumed training and is now optimistic of finally returning to the field for the first time since April 22.

"I am making excellent progress," he told Germany's state television channels ARD and ZDF. "I started training again last week and December is looking like a good time (for a return)."

The 31-year-old was in Frankfurt-am-Main on Monday to join the Germany national team in their discussions over bonuses for next summer's European Championships.

He was due to fly back to London in the evening and train on Tuesday as he works towards his comeback, although he is not going to announce exactly when he expects to return to action.

He said: "I am just going to see how it goes from week to week, but won't set a date for when I would like to play again."