Timothy Chandler is set to return to 1.FC Nurnberg team training. The U.S. international said he hopes to return to the Nurnberg in 10 days to help his team avoid relegation to the second tier.
#INSERT
type:image
caption:Timothy Chandler is back in training after knee surgery.
END#
The 24-year old right back suffered a knee injury in Nurnberg's 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in early February, and it was feared that Chandler, who had surgery in February, would not return to full fitness before the end of the Bundesliga season on May 10.
But on Tuesday, Chandler returned to the training pitch in Nurnberg for an individual session, and, speaking to German tabloid Bild, said that he hopes to make his comeback in April.
"I am still in rehab training, but I am pain free and already have good feeling with the ball," Chandler said. "My goal is to return to team training on Wednesday. And I would love to be back in the squad for the away game in Mainz."
Nurnberg currently are in the Bundesliga drop zone, and trail Stuttgart above the line by two points. With only four matches left to play, time is running out for the Franconians. At the weekend they host Bayer Leverkusen, and also await Hannover at home. The two away trips take them to Mainz, in late April, and Schalke on the final match day of the Bundesliga season.
A surprise Chandler comeback could not only help Nurnberg avoid the drop, but also put him back into the running for the 2014 World Cup. The U.S. international has not featured for Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. team since becoming cap-tied in his start against Honduras on Feb. 6, 2013.