Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger back in training

Berlin: Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger returned to team training with Bayern Munich on Tuesday for the first time since the World Cup final after suffering from a knee injury.

The 30-year-old last played on July 13 when Germany lifted their fourth World Cup title at Rio de Janeiro`s Maracana, but the defensive midfielder has been sidelined since with an inflamed knee patella ligament.

Schweinsteiger completed his first session of team training at Bayern`s Saebener Strasse centre having returned to individual training in the last week of October.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has said Schweinsteiger, who misses Germany`s Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar on Friday and friendly against Spain next Tuesday, needs a "little more" time before he can play again for Bayern.

"His mood had greatly improved in the last few weeks and he has made good progress," confirmed Schweinsteiger`s Bayern team-mate Jerome Boateng in Tuesday`s press conference with the Germany squad.

"Now he is fully concentrated on getting fit."

No date has been given for Schweinsteiger`s return, but German daily Bild report that he has requested several tickets for family and friends for Bayern`s next league match at home to Hoffenheim on November 22.