Germany's Draxler set to return to boost Euro bid

Wolfsburg's 22-year-old winger is set to prove his fitness on Saturday to coach Joachim Loew

BERLIN: Wolfsburg's Julian Draxler is set to prove his fitness on Saturday to Germany coach Joachim Loew, ahead of his Euro 2016 squad selection, by playing his first game since injury.

Loew will announce his provisional Germany squad for Euro 2016 next Tuesday.

Draxler, 22, an attacking midfielder, is out to demonstrate his fitness in Wolfsburg's final match of the season at home to VfB Stuttgart.

Draxler tore his left thigh muscle on April 12 in Wolfsburg's 3-0 Champions League defeat at Real Madrid in the second leg of the quarter-finals, after inspiring his team to a 2-0 win in the first leg, as the Germans bowed out.

"I managed to take complete part in first team training today and I have no pain anymore," said Draxler on Wednesday.

"So I assume that I'll be in the squad on Saturday and will be in top condition by the time the Euros come around.

"When I first suffered the injury, I called Germany coach Joachim Loew, he was worried and wanted to have weekly updates.

"There has only been positive news to give and he was quickly relieved."

Loew also received more good news on Tuesday with injured pair Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany's captain, and Sami Khedira both on the road to recovery from knee and calf injuries respectively.

Loew is expected to name up to 31 players on Tuesday, but the squad will then be reduced to 23 on May 30.

Germany start their training camp in Ascona, Switzerland, on May 23 before playing friendlies against Slovakia on May 29 in Augsburg and Hungary in Gelsenkirchen on June 4.

They will head to their Euro 2016 base in Evian on June 7 and the world champions open their Euro 2016 campaign against Ukraine in Lille on June 12 before also playing Poland and Northern Ireland in Group C.