Chelsea FC

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Blues confirm Ballack surgery

18 Oct 2008 - 12:03:05

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Chelsea have confirmed that midfielder Michael Ballack has undergone surgery on his right foot and will be out of action for at least a fortnight.

The 32-year-old went under the knife after suffering with a nerve problem while on international duty with Germany, with initial reports suggesting that Ballack had needed treatment on both feet.

However, Blues club doctor Bryan English later confirmed: "I had a call from the German medical team saying Michael had been playing on Wednesday in quite severe pain down towards the third and fourth toes in his right foot.

"They scanned him the following morning and he had an enlarged nerve in that area, which is something that can develop over many weeks and months and suddenly it started giving him pain.

"It is something that if it doesn't give you pain, you leave it alone, but if it gives pain, there is a 20 per cent chance of solving it with injection treatment, but we have taken the option to go for surgery.

"He had surgery, a successful procedure and it will be about two weeks before he is back in training."

An earlier statement from the German Football Federation had read: "Michael complained after the World Cup qualifier against Wales on Wednesday repeatedly about strong pains in both feet.

"An MRI scan on Thursday confirmed our suspicions of a neuroma, so after speaking with the club doctor, manager and coach at Chelsea we decided to operate immediately on both feet.

"If the recovery goes normally, Michael will probably be able to return to training in two weeks."