Ivan Klasnic has returned to first team training with Werder Bremen for the first time since his kidney transplant seven months ago.
The Croatian international striker is striving to make a comeback to Bundesliga action for Werder- and is targeting a possible return in 10 days when Bremen face Hertha Berlin.
The 27 year old has been working tirelessly over the past months to regain his fitness and make a comeback for the 'green and whites'.
'We have been working intensively. I don't have any pain, and there are no other problems' he explained.
Klasnic also sent out a message to Werder trainer Thomas Schaaf saying, 'I'm waiting for the trainer's signal. If he is happy, then I'm ready and able to play.'
'To make a return to playing would be the fulfilment of my dream' Klasnic explained.
Schaaf however is keen to make sure his striker is absolutely ready before taking any chances.
05 October 2007
Werder Bremen midfielders Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski are back in Germany's squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Ireland and the Czech Republic, but striker Miroslav Klose and captain Michael Ballack are still missing.
Klose has re-injured his right knee and Ballack is still recovering from an ankle operation. The Chelsea midfielder has not played since April. Klose leads the Bundesliga with eight goals for Bayern Munich.
Also missing are defenders Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich and Christian Pander of Schalke and Stuttgart midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Frings and Borowski return after missing the start of the season with knee injuries. Also back is Werder defender Clemens Fritz.
Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez is also back in the 22-man roster announced by coach Joachim Loew on Friday. Gomez missed last month's qualifier against Wales and the friendly against Romania.
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is in the squad although he hasn't played for more than a month because of an elbow injury.
Germany leads Group D with 22 points from eight games. The Czechs have 20 points from nine games and Ireland 14, also from nine games.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)
Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (Stuttgart), David Odonkor (Betis Sevilla), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Cologne), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich)
01 October 2007
Hertha Berlin midfielder Lucio's career is hanging in the balance following a horrific knee injury.
The Brazilian caught his foot in the pitch at the Veltins Arena on Friday evening as Hertha lost 1-0 to Schalke and twisted his knee so badly that his cruciate knee ligaments, patella tendon and meniscus were all badly damaged.
The 28-year-old wing-back, who joined the Bundesliga club in January, underwent surgery in Austria on Saturday.
No definite forecast has been divulged on when he is expected to recover which has led to speculation he may never take to the field again, and reports have suggested it may be between six and nine months before the former Brazil international can even run again.
"Lucio needs enough time to come back without any pressure," said Hertha club doctor Ulrich Schleicher.
