Schweinsteiger on track for Bayern return

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is working hard to return to full fitness at his team’s mid-season training camp in Qatar.

With the Bundesliga taking a winter break, both table-toppers Bayern and the third-placed Schalke have traveled to Doha for mid-season training camps.

For Schweinsteiger, it is just a matter of getting fit with a shoulder injury sustained in a Champions League win over Napoli having serious repercussions.

It has meant the German international has not featured for Bayern since November 3 and he is being subjected to several fitness tests to make sure he is fully fit ahead of the resumption of the Bundesliga.

“I have missed a few games so it’s harder, but I feel good,” Schweinsteiger said.

“Of course, after the first few training sessions I’m still a bit heavy-legged, but I think that’s normal and OK. We must now ensure we have the basics in place for a good second half of the campaign.”

It will start with the game against Gladbach (Borussia Moenchengladbach, on January 20).”

Schalke are also in Doha but much of the focus on their side has been if they will be able to retain Raul and Jefferson Farfan.

Both attackers are out of contract at the end of the season and discussions over renewals have come unstuck.

Schalke general manager, Horst Heldt, revealed that an offer to Farfan had been withdrawn but the club still wanted to sign him, while adding that the club was ‘not worried’ about dealing with Raul again in the hope he signs as well.

“We have withdrawn our offer to Jeff (Jefferson Farfan),” Heldt said.

“But the door hasn’t been shut, it’s still open. We will see in the next few weeks if something will happen or not.”

“The club and Raul don’t consider the upcoming negotiations as difficult. He is a total gentleman, and world class player, and we will see what comes out of these conversations and make a decision together. Schalke are not worried about having these conversations, just as Raul isn’t worried.”