FRANKFURT, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Reebok expects new products such as its toning collection to improve profitability in the United States, the Adidas-owned (ADSG.DE) sporting goods maker's chief said in an interview.

Photo: www.reebok.com

"If things continue like this, we have managed the turnaround," Reebok head Uli Becker told Handelsblatt newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday 5 January.

Reebok suffered sliding sales after it was bought by Adidas in 2006 as customers shunned its shoes and sports clothes. In the third quarter of 2009, Reebok generated 17 million euros

($24.6 million) operating profit, with 591 million in sales.

New products such as EasyTone sneakers -- whose curved soles help work out the legs while walking -- will help bring Reebok back up to speed, Becker said.

(Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Dan Lalor)