Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says he feels “good, healthy and fit” as he looks to show future manager Jose Mourinho he is worthy of a place in the side next season.
The 31-year-old is currently on international duty with Germany at the European Championships in France, though he has not started any of the Germans matches in the competition so far. He has made three substitute appearances and scored once against Ukraine, though.
Difficult time with United
The midfielder endured a difficult first season with the Reds after being brought to the club by Louis van Gaal last summer from Bayern Munich, becoming the first-ever German to represent the club at first team level.
Countless injuries and the inability to cement a consistent place in the team saw Schweinsteiger struggle to impose himself on the Premier League or show United fans some of the midfield displays that have made him so coveted in his home country.
But despite missing a large amount of football the German insists his fitness is certainly improving.
He said: “You have to remember I did not play for many weeks; my rhythm is not quite perfect.”
The World Cup winner has made 31 appearances for the club so far, scoring one goal, but hasn’t started a competitive match since United’s 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup in January - a competition the Reds subsequently went on to win.
Schweinsteiger will be desperate to increase his game time this summer in order to force himself into Mourinho’s plans for next season. With the Reds rumoured to be looking to strengthen in the midfield, most notably Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s reportedly imminent arrival from Borussia Dortmund for around £25 million, Schweinsteiger will be keen to show that he can step up to the mark at Old Trafford.