Germany striker Podolski returns to training

Germany striker Lukas Podolski returned to training with relegation-haunted Cologne on Thursday, three weeks after injuring his left ankle.

However, he refused to reveal if he was fit enough to face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

"Now I will see how the ankle reacts," said the 26-year-old, who has scored 15 times this season.

"Perhaps I could play 10 or 15 minutes, but we don't want to take any risks because the injury was more serious than we had anticipated."

Cologne, who have lost their last two matches, are 14th in the table, just two places above the relegation zone.

Podolski, who has 95 caps, had already been ruled out of Germany's friendly international against France next Wednesday.