By Klaus Bergmann and Jens Mende, dpa
Hamburg (dpa) – Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Guendogan expressed his delight at being back in the Germany set-up after injury problems while captain Manuel Neuer is targeting two wins in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
«It is extremely good to be back again,» Guendogan told a news conference in Hamburg on Thursday. Germany meet the Czech Republic in the northern city on Saturday before moving to host Northern Ireland in Hanover on Tuesday.
«We want to try to keep six points from both home games,» Neuer said, adding the «clear goal» was direct qualification for the 2018 finals in Russia, which comes only from winning the group.
Reigning World Cup champions Germany currently top Group C following a 3-0 opening win away to Norway.
Guendogan, 25, has not played for Germany since a friendly defeat to France in November 2015 and missed Euro 2016 with a knee injury. He missed the Germany training session on Wednesday but returned on Thursday and is fit to play.
«I know the feeling as a come-backer,» Guendogan joked. The skillful ball player also missed out on the successful World Cup campaign in
2014 with a back problem.
Since making his debut for Germany against Belgium in 2011, only 15 more caps have arrived and he has yet to play at a major tournament – and Euro 2012 he was an unsued member of the squad.
Guendogan’s return has been hailed by coach Joachim Loew as an «increase in quality» and he could be used to fill in for the now retired Bastian Schweinsteiger.
«I would be extremely happy if my career runs like Bastian Schweinsteiger’s,» Guendogan said, before cautioning: «I want to play my game which is not absolutely the same as Basti’s.»
