MANCHESTER (UNITED KINGDOM) - Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger could recover from a knee injury in time to captain Germany at Euro 2016, his club coach Louis van Gaal said on Friday.
Manchester United's German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger
The World Cup-winning midfield enforcer suffered a ligament tear in training with Germany in March after a previous two-month lay off with only four second-half substitute appearances between the two periods spent on the sidelines.
Van Gaal said Friday he was sure that the 31-year-old would not wear a United shirt again this season, but was more hopeful about his race to be ready for Euro 2016 in France.
"I don't think Schweinsteiger shall play this season - I think, next season, he is prepared," Van Gaal told MUTV.
"Maybe he is prepared for the European championship, I cannot predict," he said of the tournament starting on June 10.
"It is possible, but then that is also in our favour because then he is fit for the new competition."
Germany coach Joachim Loew has always left the door open for the man who played 500 times for Bayern Munich and who is a prized asset at the heart of the German set-up.
"I have told Bastian I won't be writing him off for the European championships," Loew said when Schweinsteiger suffered his relapse.
"The tournament is not taking place tomorrow and there is still time.
"Bastian is a top professional and I know he will do everything in order to be fit for the tournament."
Schweinsteiger has played in three World Cups and the past two Euros, picking up 114 Germany caps along the way.