By Oliver Trust


BERLIN nike air max outlet , Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- On Thursday, 31-year old Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer left hospital in Tuebingen near Stuttgart after his third operation on an injured metatarsal bone in his left foot. Heading back to Bavaria, the international keeper's mind must have been full of doubts and questions. The most crucial one: Will he return to full match fitness in time for the 2018 World Cup


Not only German national coach Joachim Loew is waiting anxiously for Neuer's return but his club Bayern Munich and head coach Carlo Ancelotti. The goalkeeper is not expected to return to regular training before January 2018. If the recovery process proceeds on schedule, it will come as a relief to the 2017 German champions who need the services of the world's best goalkeeper in the second half of the season when, amongst other things, the Champions League knock-out phase starts.


Doubts, however, remain whether Neuer's fitness will allow him to join the race for titles? Especially as he has once again injured the same bone that has caused trouble in the past.


At the end of March 2017, a screw was implanted in Neuer's foot. Just two weeks after the operation, Neuer returned to action for the tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League, but the injury flared up again in the second leg. He had perhaps returned too soon.


This time doctors decided on a longer course of treatment without resorting to an operation. It meant Neuer was out of the game for over four months.


Now a plate has been inserted to give the bone greater stability. "It's bad news for us. Manuel is not only the best keeper, but a leader," said Bayern striker Thomas Mueller.


A controversial discussion about the treatment and the early return has broken out at the club. Ancelotti defended the decision. "We all made the decision, the player, the doc and me," said the Italian who called Neuer's latest injury an unfortunate coincidence.


Club insiders report that a meeting that will soon take place to take a close look at the club's medical team as the club management like president Uli Hoeness and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge are not pleased with the therapy for Neuer and several other players.


A struggle for fitness ahead of major tournament is nothing new for Neuer. In the German 2014 Cup final, Neuer suffered a shoulder injury and just in time recovered for the 2014 World Cup. His last international appearance for Germany was back in October 2016. Since then Neuer has missed 13 internationals for Germany and was mostly replaced by his understudy Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona).


In Munich, 29-year-old Sven Ulreich will replace Neuer both in the German championship and the Champions League when they face two group matches against Paris St Germain. Most pundits expect the encounters will decide the top two places in the group but a second place finish would however mean a potentially tough ride in the last 16.


The 17-year-old Cristian Fruechtl will be Bayern's No. 2 keeper. Bayern announced that 36-year-old Tom Starke will also return to regular training. The oldie had retired after the end of the 201617 season to join the club's coaching staff.


"We're looking forward to Manuel's return, but have full confidence in Sven Ulreich," said Ancelotti who followed up by saying that Ulreich has proved his quality. The former Stuttgart kepper was particularly impressive when Bayern beat league rivals Schalke last Tuesday 3-0.


Ancelotti did not refer to the opinion of many pundits, who feel Bayern has less chance of winning the Champions League without Neuer. Ancelotti and Bayern expect the World Cup winner to be back in mid-January 2018. But doubts remain after the same bone has now been broken three times. Some feel Neuer may well have difficulties in returning to full fitness in time for the 2018 World Cup.


German national coach Joachim Loew announced full support for Neuer. "We will give Manuel all the possible support for a full recovery and are convinced he will get back to top form," Loew commented.


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VIENNA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka welcomed plans by the European Commission to allow the implementation of border controls in members for up to three years.


Up to now the limit for internal border controls as part of the Schengen agreement was six months for security reasons, and had subsequently been extended to two years on the back of the migrant crisis.


Austria had joined Germany and several other European states in calling for an extension to a four-year maximum duration for border controls. The Commission responded on Wednesday with the three-year proposal.