Schaars fitness fillip for AZ

Stijn Schaars has announced his "100 per cent availability" for AZ Alkmaar's UEFA Cup quarter-final second leg away to Werder Bremen on Thursday.

Ready for action
The 23-year-old midfielder, who has been capped six times by the Netherlands, has been sidelined since undergoing ankle surgery on 19 January but has now declared himself fit for the match in Germany, which stands at 0-0 after the first leg. "My availability is 100 per cent," said Schaars. "If the coach wants, I can play from the start. Every minute of playing time is positive for me." Coach Louis van Gaal will have to do without the services of the suspended Grétar Steinsson, however, while Barry Opdam, David Mendes da Silva and Joey Didulica are all injured.