Loew says Ballack must wait on Germany comeback

Dec 20, 2010, 15:12 GMT

Berlin - German coach Joachim Loew believes captain Michael Ballack won't be ready for a comeback in the national side for a February friendly against Italy.

Ballack, who has had two serious injuries and missed the World Cup in South Africa, will still need match practice by the time of the February 9 game in Dortmund, Loew told Kicker magazine.

'At present he is not even in full team training. By February 9 there will have only been four Bundesliga games since the winter break,' Loew said in an interview published Monday.

'In talks with him I know how strongly he is fighting for his comeback.

'He wants to carry on playing for the national team and I trust he will again make a mark in 2011. We will all be delighted if he achieves that.

'On the other hand he has been injured for more than half a year. You have to give him a bit of time to regain his form.'

Ballack, 34, missed the World Cup after suffering an ankle ligament tear playing for Chelsea. After his move in the summer to Bayer Leverkusen he suffered a fracture below the knee.

Following the friendly against Italy, Germany have a Euro 2012 qualifier against Kazakhstan in Kaiserslautern on March 26 followed by a friendly against Australia three days later in Moenchengladbach.

If Ballack returns then it would be more than a year since his last game for Germany, a 1-0 defeat to Argentina on March 3, 2010.