Relief for Germany as Neuer to start

– Germany’s captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (right) will return to international action in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Austria after more than eight months on the sidelines because of a fractured foot.

“Manuel will play,” said goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke from Germany’s training base in Eppan, Italy.

“These are matches he needs, it’s a real test. Afterwards, it will be up to us to decide if it’s all OK.”

Coach Joachim Loew has already said Neuer would only travel to Russia for the June 14-July 15 World Cup as the No 1 goalkeeper.

Loew has taken 27 players with him for their training camp, including four keepers, with four to be cut before the list of the official 23-man squad is delivered to Fifa on Monday.

Neuer, 32, took to the field for the first time since his injury on Monday, playing 30 minutes in a friendly against their Under-20 side. He will repeat that against the same opposition tonight.

“Manuel needs these matches to once again be on 100 percent top form. They’ll help him to refind his confidence,” said Koepke.

The assistant coach added: “In training, you can’t see any difference (with Neuer), it’s as if he’s never had a break.”

Should Neuer come back, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be relegated to the bench after a year as the first choice. – AFP