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Bastian Schweinsteiger – missing the last three months with left knee troubles – participated in team training on the Säbener Straße on Tuesday.
With injuries and international call-ups, there were only ten players on the park, but kicker reported that he completed his exercises without any problems. He and Sebastian Rode also did an extra fitness session afterwards with fitness coach Dr. Holger Broich, according to the club website.
Happy Birthday, Philipp and welcome back, Basti! #Lahm #FootballLegend http://t.co/AJJjQ0zHDZ
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) November 11, 2014
"His mood has improved over the last few weeks," Jérôme Boateng told TZ while on international duty with Germany. "He is making good progress. Now he will focus primarily on getting fit again."
This is a knee issue that has bothered Schweinsteiger for the past six months, which started in Bayern's final match of the season against VfB Stuttgart. He missed the 2014 DFB-Pokal Final with the same injury, and sat much of the group stage of the World Cup while he regained his fitness. His 10-minute public appearance in Portland, Oregon was the only action he had since the end of the World Cup.
Bayern Munich have remained unbeaten to start their 2014-15 campaign despite not having their vice-captain in the team. Xabi Alonso, Philipp Lahm, and David Alaba have worked to plug the hole the 29-year-old has left behind, producing arguably the strongest box-to-box midfield in the world.
Schweinsteiger's reintegration to team training comes at a perfect time for the Bavarians as well, although his definite return to game action is still unclear. With Alaba and Javi Martínez shelved indefinitely with knee injuries, the Fußballgott will be a much-needed depth piece as Bayern finish out their Hinrunde. The best part for him is, with Rode and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in the team, there is no pressing need to shove him back into action.
"No pressure on him," said Guardiola (kicker). "We will advance him step-by-step."