Ribery to return against Hertha

(GSM) – Bayern Munich’s France play maker Franck Ribery hopes to return to action in his team’s final game of the year against Hertha Berlin on Saturday in Munich after missing most of the season out with a knee injury.

Despite limping out of training on Wednesday after receiving a kick on one of his toes, Ribery, said he wanted to play at least 20 minutes against bottom-placed Hertha.

“I am totally motivated and want to get back to the team,” the Frenchman told Bild newspaper on Thursday. “I only returned to full training last week but hope to have 20 minutes against Berlin. I do not feel any pain.”

Ribery, at the heart of a transfer tug-of-war between Bayern and Real Madrid last summer, has refused to say whether he will be staying in Munich after the end of the season despite having a contract until 2011.

The 26-year-old said there was no pre-contract agreement signed with Real Madrid.

“No, I have not signed any pre-contract with Real Madrid. Anything is possible. But I want to know by the end of the season whether I will stay or go,” he said.