Michael Ballack made his first start since September late Friday as his Bayer Leverkusen side defeated Hanover 2-0.
Arturo Vidal gave Leverkusen the lead with Simon Rolfes adding the second goal three minutes before the interval as Ballack injected a little life back into the team.
He picked up his injury in the first fixture between the two teams in September and the man responsible for the crunching challenge, Sergio Pinto, faced him again on Friday.
“I’m rather satisfied with my form even if I a missing a few things,” said Ballack, who came off the bench in the win against Moenchengladbach last weekend.
United interested in Stekelenburg
Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is Manchester United’s top target to replace the retiring Edwin van der Sar, according to first-team coach Rene Meulensteen.
Van der Sar, 40, confirmed last week that he will quit at the end of the season, ending a remarkable two decades at the top of the game. Now it seems the Old Trafford club want another Dutchman to take over.
“Stekelenburg is indeed a keeper who is at the top of our wanted list,” Meulensteen is reported to have told Dutch radio.
“We naturally talk a lot among ourselves about who should rep-lace Van der Sar. Alex Ferguson has spoken about Stekelenburg with Edwin, and that does not seem strange to me at all.”
Jerome intends to stick with Blues
Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome has pledged his future to the League Cup finalists and said he will only leave if told he is not wanted. Jerome has been linked with a move to Stoke during the current transfer window.
But the former England U-21 international is happy at Blues as he prepares to welcome a new strike partner in Obafemi Martins, whose loan move from Rubin Kazan should be completed today.
Jerome said: “There has been speculation about me but no-one has come to me and said you are going anywhere.
“I’m quite happy here. I’ve been here five years. I’m Birmingham through and through at the moment.”
Houllier to bide time over Larsson
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier may attempt to sign Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson in the summer after failing to land the Sweden international this month.
Houllier has been told that Larsson is remaining at Birmingham for the rest of the campaign until his contract expires in June. But he could revisit the possibility of signing the former Arsenal player when he becomes a free agent.
He said: “I knew Larsson’s contract was up at the end of June, so obviously I was interested because he’s a good footballer, good passer.
“But in June the door will still be open. I thought it (any deal) would happen in June anyway. Remember, Birmingham have qualified for the League Cup final.”
Bale not moving to Inter – Redknapp
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told Inter that Gareth Bale is not for sale at any price.
Reports claimed Inter were determined to land Bale in summer in a £40m deal after being impressed by the Welsh winger in the Champions League games between the two sides this season.
The 21-year-old, who arrived at Tottenham from Southampton in 2007 for £5m, signed a new four-year contract in May last year after reports of Inter’s interest first began to emerge.
“We won’t be selling Gareth. You have special players in your team and if we’re going to be a top team you’ve got to keep your top players,” Redknapp said.
Arsenal’s Vela agrees Albion deal
Arsenal’s Mexican international striker Carlos Vela joined struggling Premier League rivals West Brom on loan until the end of the season. The 21-year-old, who was in his country’s World Cup squad, has made just 13 appearances for the Gunners this season, scoring three goals.
In total he has played 62 times for Arsene Wenger’s team, scoring 11 times.
Vela, who has nine goals in 33 internationals, has previously gone on loan to Salamanca and Osasuna in Spain.
No 2022 matches outside Qatar
Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam ruled out any games during the Qatar 2022 World Cup being played in neighbouring countries.
His comments followed UEFA president Michel Platini saying that he was in favour of distributing the tournament among several Gulf countries to help better develop football across the region.
Bin Hammam, himself a Qatari, said that as far as he was concerned, it won’t happen.
“Qatar submitted the bid to organise the World Cup and it’s fair just for Qatar to organise all the matches,” he said.
“It’s been discussed that some games may be played elsewhere.
“From my point of view, I don’t think any other country is going to have any part of the competition.”