Ballack must earn national recall

Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff has warned Michael Ballack he will have to earn back his place in the national squad.

The Germany captain has been sidelined for Bayer Leverkusen with an ankle injury for much of the 2010-11 Bundesliga season, but is on track to resume in their clash with league leaders Borussia Dortmund on January 14.

But Bierhoff has told the 34-year-old former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder he will not be an automatic selection for national coach Joachim Low.

“We know about his personality and his excellent qualities, which are good and important for the team, but he also knows that a player who has been out for such a long time will first have to reintegrate with a newly-formed team,” Bierhoff told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

“The most important thing is (being able to) integrate in a team, but Ballack can do that.”

Philipp Lahm, 27, has been Germany’s captain while Ballack was recovering, and Bierhoff said the Bayern Munich defender could remain in the role to allow Ballack to focus on regaining his best form.

“Maybe he realises that it would do him good if he did not have all of the pressure on him alone,” he said.

“He can also see that as a positive aspect and continue to play at a high level in a functioning team.”