Mehmet Scholl spared knee surgery ordeal
Veteran midfielder Mehmet Scholl was breathing a sigh of relief on Monday after a medical showed a knee injury collected in Sunday's Berlin clash was less serious than originally feared. The 34 year-old has been diagnosed with stretched anterior knee ligaments and has been ordered off training for two days.
"It looks as though it's not too bad. The situation now is that he doesn't need surgery," coach Felix Magath reported after Monday morning training at the Säbener Strasse.
No opponent was involved on Sunday evening when the player caught his studs in the Berlin Olympic stadium turf shortly before the final whistle. Scholl reported to the medical unit complaining of a problem in his left knee with the initial indications pointing to more serious damage and a lay-off of up to three weeks. A question-mark remains over the midfielder's fitness for next Saturday's home meeting with Leverkusen.
On a positive note, Magath said he was confident of a return for Bixente Lizarazu. "I've spoken with him this morning, and he's feeling good," the boss reported. Lizarazu limped out of his comeback match against Hamburg after just six minutes with a torn calf muscle but is set to resume team training in midweek. Sebastian Deisler has also reported back after recovering from viral flu to play a full part in Monday's session.
