Schweinsteiger set for 2014 return

 
The midfielder has been plagued by a succession of injuries in recent years but is closing in on full fitness once again

Bastian Schweinsteiger is likely to make his Bayern Munich return before the winter break after missing the start of the campaign with a knee injury.

Following Germany's World Cup success in Brazil, Schweinsteiger picked up a minor ankle problem in Bayern's close-season preparations before irritation around the patellar tendon prevented him from returning to competitive club action.

The midfielder, 30, has been ruled out of the early stages of Bayern's Bundesliga defence as a result, but chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the midfielder was set to return before the turn of the year.

"He is likely to come back in 2014," he told Kicker.

"All is okay. He may get back into the team's training in the next international break."

Bayern's final game before the mid-season break comes against Mainz at the Coface Arena on December 19, with the club currently top of the Bundesliga and their Champions League group in Schweinsteiger's absence.