FORMER Shenhua idol Xie Hui, currently on the books of Bundesliga Second Division side Aachen, has rejoined his old club on loan.

Xie Hui has already arrived in Shanghai for Saturday afternoon's derby against Zhongyuan Huili. He signed for Shenhua SVA late last week after Aachen agreed to release their player until June, at which point his contract with the club expires.

Xie, Aachen's highest paid player, has been relegated to the bench at the German club in recent weeks and he realizes the necessity of match practice if he is to figure in Bora Milutinovic's China squad.

Speaking about his decision to rejoin Shenhua, Xie said: "To play in the World Cup has been my dream since I was a child. This dream is now so close, I can't miss out on it."

He added: "After careful consideration, I decided to come back to China. I need match practice ahead of the World Cup. My friends have given me their support and understand the issue. I don't know whether I have made the right decision or not. The future will tell everything."

Xie, who scored 25 goals for Shenhua between 1994 and 2000, will find stiff competition for a first 11 place at the newly baptized Shenhua SVA, with the likes of Ruben Sosa, Orlando, Rodrigues and Qu Shengqing making up what could turn out to be an extremely potent strike force for China's richest football club as they seek to end Dalian Shide's dominance of the Jia A and win their first title since 1995. (Sinosoc.com)