Soccer

Bastian Schweinsteiger return will boost entire club claims Luke Shaw

Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger. 
Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger.  Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger. 

BASTIAN Schweinsteiger's Manchester United exile has come to an end and Luke Shaw believes it will prove a "great boost" to everyone at the club.

Brought to Old Trafford by Louis van Gaal last summer, the 32-year-old was immediately frozen out by the Dutchman's successor Jose Mourinho.

Schweinsteiger's stock plummeted so far that United had to write him off as an asset in the club accounts as he was "no longer considered to be a member of the first team playing squad".

However, the former Germany captain has surprisingly been brought in from the cold, with the club releasing pictures of him training with the first team at the Aon Training Complex on Monday.

Schweinsteiger featured prominently in a series of images shared by the club and left-back Shaw welcomed a return Mourinho informed his players about before Saturday's 0-0 draw with Burnley.

"It's great to see him back," the United left-back said. "We found out the news a couple of days ago and it's so great to have him back.

"He's a big influence in the dressing room and obviously on the pitch, especially for the young players like myself."

Shaw, speaking at the launch of the global partnership between mattress and pillow maker Mlily and Manchester United, added: "It's a great boost for us, the experience and the quality that he brings.

"The quality he possesses is a boost for our team and I'm so glad to have him back."

Schweinsteiger is unable to play a part in Thursday's Europa League trip to Fenerbahce given he is not registered for the competition.

The midfielder is, though, part of the Premier League squad as it was compulsory under league guidelines, meaning he would be able to feature at Swansea next weekend.

However, it is understood Schweinsteiger's return to training does not necessarily mean a return to first-team action is imminent.

There was widespread summer interest in the midfielder over the summer, but he stayed put and said towards the end of the window that United would be his last club in Europe.

Schweinsteiger's return to first-team training may only be with a January move in mind, but the player has regularly attended matches, such as last week's EFL Cup win against Manchester City.

Ahead of that match former Germany team-mate Manuel Neuer said the midfielder was just the man United need right now and club great Bryan Robson believes his return could prove beneficial

"Bastian's a great lad, speaks perfect English, has got great quality and he's got vast experience," he said at Monday's partnership announcement.

"For me he could definitely help the group, on the confidence side and just the know-how on how to play the game in that central role.

"I still think he could be valuable to the squad."