Hildebrand wants to be number one

Former Germany international goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand is adamant that he should be Schalke's first choice custodian for next season.

The 33-year-old was a free agent before being signed by Die Konigsblauen last season to cover for Ralf Fahrmann and Lars Unnerstall, who both picked up injuries. But an elbow injury saw him lose his place in the Schalke team and, with Fahrmann and Unnerstall both now fit, there is a three-man battle for the number one jersey. However, the former Stuttgart, Valencia and Sporting Lisbon shot-stopper is in no doubt as to who should be between the posts when the Bundesliga season gets under way. "We are at Schalke, a side in the Champions League and there is no time for development phases," he told Kicker magazine. "You need to work immediately. And if we are talking about age, then that speaks for me because I have the most experience."