Bayern Munich head coach Jupp Heynckes is confident Manuel Neuer will feature for Germany at the World Cup but has refused to place a timescale on his return.
Neuer is undertaking the latest stage of his injury rehabilitation in Thailand after Heynckes advised a change of scenery in his gruelling fitness slog.
The Germany and Bayern captain has broken his foot three times in the past 12 months and the last of his three Bundesliga appearances this season preceded surgery in September.
We are not pressuring him. There is no timeframe, there is no deadline. Heynckes told a news conference ahead of Saturday s Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg.
Personally, I am convinced that he will play for us and will play in the World Cup but in the end that is something he has to decide, together with the medical team, when he returns
He can t afford to take any risk and I don t think he will.
on going to Thailand: Manu is making great progress and is working hard on his fitness. I recommended he have a change in scenery just to get away from Säbener Street.
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN)
Neuer was Heynckes goalkeeper during his previous spell in charge, when Bayern stormed to a historic treble in 2012-13, and the veteran coach is full of admiration for the 31-year-old s commitment at a difficult time.
Since I ve been here I ve been in touch with Manuel, of course, he said. It s not only that we celebrated great success together – I appreciated him not only as the world s best goalkeeper but as a human being.
I gave him a couple of valuable tips that I m pretty sure he followed and I told him to choose a change of scenery. That s what he s doing right now.
The way I know Manuel, he s continuing to work on his fitness. I ve seen him many times here with the physical therapists and it s really extraordinary the job he s doing.
Manuel is in good psychological shape, he s making good progress and I ve always said I will not pressure him, there is no deadline.
