Javi Martinez returns to full training

The last time that we saw Javi Martinez, it was the end of August. Bayern were on their way to winning the UEFA Supercup against Chelsea FC in Prague. The Spaniard scored the last second equalizer to send the match to penalties

"I enjoyed it. Finally, I'm back on the field," Martinez told FC Bayern's official website. "Now, I hope I can help the team as soon as possible in games again, but I need a little patience and a lot of training."

Then, he was out for seven weeks due to a groin operation. During this time we have been able to see the "Lahm Experiment", whereby Pep Guardiola deployed Philipp Lahm in a defensive midfielder role with Rafinha seeing a lot of minutes at right back. While the "Experiment" has worked amazingly well, I believe that we'll all (Okay, most of us...) that the team would be better served with Martinez in a defensive midfield role with Lahm back at his favored right back spot.

It is rather unfortunate that Martinez isn't ready to go this week to be deployed at centerback. With Dante out for a week or two, Martinez's ability to play centerback would be valuable. The likelihood is that Pep will deploy Danie Van Buyten alongside Jan Kirchhoff against Viktoria Plzen midweek in the Champions League but wouldn't everyone feel a little more secure if Martinez was in a defensive pairing for that one?

More from Bavarian Football Works:

• Mario Götze and the importance of the false 10 role in Guardiola's 4-1-4-1
• Matchday 9: Bayern Munich vs. Mainz
• Injury Update: Dante and Franck Ribery suffer ankle injuries
• A tale of two halves: Bayern beat Mainz 4-1
• Matchday 9: Bayern Munich vs Mainz | Lineups and Gamethread