Deisler back in squad for Stuttgart clash

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

15.11.2006

Slowly but surely, the injury and absentee list at the club is growing shorter. Brazil defender Lucio resumed the squad programme on Tuesday, and now another of the Bavarians' star names is set to make an eagerly-awaited comeback. After eight months on the sidelines with injury, Sebastian Deisler will return to the matchday squad for Saturday's crunch showdown against leaders VfB Stuttgart.

The decision came after coach Felix Magath consulted the midfielder on Wednesday, when the player declared himself fit enough and ready to resume competitive action. Deisler turned his right knee in training back in mid-March and required an operation to repair the damage. The Germany international resumed training with the squad some four weeks ago.

Last appearance in Milan

The 26-year-old, whose promising career has been blighted by a string of injuries, joined Bayern in 2002 and has made 58 Bundesliga appearances since then. His most recent outing came in the Champions League first knockout round return leg on 8 March, where Bayern suffered a painful 4-1 defeat against AC Milan. Deisler's fifth serious knee injury led to a grim case of deja vu, as he sat out the 2006 World Cup to follow a similar absence from the world stage four years earlier.

Lucio, who collected a World Cup winner's medal in 2002, is reported as making good progress after shaking off sprained ankle ligaments. The Brazilian has even managed a couple of extra workouts on top of the squad programme as he seeks to regain full fitness as rapidly as possible. The towering centre-half went for a 20-minute run after the official training session on Wednesday under the supervision of assistant coach Seppo Eichkorn.

Pizarro sidelined

England international Owen Hargreaves is also back at the training ground, although the midfielder is currently restricted to jogging. The player reported to fitness coach Bjorn Andersson on Wednesday for the first time since breaking a shin bone on 16 September in Bielefeld. "It's taking longer to heal than we expected, but it's coming along nicely now," Magath remarked.

The only selection question-mark ahead of the big match at the weekend against leaders VfB Stuttgart concerns Claudio Pizarro. The Peru hitman trapped a nerve in his spine during training on Tuesday and sat out the session on Wednesday. "He couldn't train today because it was hurting so much," Magath reported, "but I hope he'll be fit for Saturday."

tracylynn

For once there is some good news out of camp. The only news that wasn't good was the news on Pizarro but I hope he's fine by Saturday.