Michael Ballack could be ruled out until 2011 through injury

Michael Ballack's miserable return to Bayer Leverkusen has been further compounded with the revelation that he will now miss the rest of the calendar year with the shin injury he suffered against Hannover, according to reports in Germany.
                                                                    
Ballack had initially been ruled out for a period of six weeks, but Kicker claims Bayer head coach Jupp Heynckes revealed to them that after speaking with the former Bayern and Chelsea midfielder on the telephone, a scan showed that he will not be able to return to action before the New Year and that the likelihood of a quicker than anticipated comeback was extremely optimistic indeed.

Despite some stinging criticism from Bayer's sporting director Rudi Voller, Sergio Pinto was not entirely repentent.

"Of course I am sorry that Ballack is injured and is now out for longer. However, I cannot pull back from a tackle, just because it is Ballack," the Hannover midfielder told SPOX.

Ballack was already omitted from Germany's squad to face Belgium and Azerbaijan in the European Championship qualifiers and it now remains to be seen for how long coach Joachim Loew will leave the door open.

Source