Schweinsteiger 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, Bayern Munich said today. 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 UEFA Champions League win over Napoli on 2 November. Bayern travel to Bochum for a last-16 fixture in the German Cup prior to Christmas. The Bavarian giants will meet again on 2 January for a week-long training camp in Qatar, and play a friendly in New Delhi on 10 January, before flying back to Germany a day later.