Schweinsteiger's return set for new year

Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger will not return to action until the start of the new year following recent surgery on a broken collarbone, his club Bayern Munich said on Thursday.Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger said last week he hoped the midfielder would return before the start of the Bundesliga's winter break.However, a day ahead of Bayern's hosting of Cologne in their final league match of the year, coach Jupp Heynckes said: "There's still too big a risk."The 27-year-old Schweinsteiger had a plate inserted in his right shoulder after breaking his collarbone following a heavy fall in the 3-2 Champions League win over Napoli on November 2.Bayern travel to Bochum for a last 16 fixture in the German Cup prior to Christmas.The Bavarian giants will meet again on January 2 for a week-long training camp in Qatar, and play a friendly in New Delhi on January 10 before flying back to Germany a day later.

Source: AFP