Ballack wants 2007 games

Michael Ballack has admitted he is very close to returning to fitness and appearing for Chelsea, but insists he hopes to play for the Stamford Bridge side before the end of 2007. The midfielder has not played since April.

Ballack told Germany's Premiere TV: "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."