Everton sign former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzelsperger

Everton have signed former Germany international Thomas Hitzelsperger to a short-term contract, after he proved to club officials that he's bounced back from his knee injury.

The midfielder has been training with the English Premier League's in-form team for a month, after being released by the Bundesliga's Wolfsburg. The free agent has signed a contract keeping him at the club until January.

If international clearance is granted, the 30-year-old will be eligible for Sunday's Premier League fixture at Queens Park Rangers.

The move means a return to the league for Hitzelsperger, who spent four years at Aston Villa and was part of an unsuccessful attempt to keep West Ham in the league in the 2010-11 season.