Jamal Musiala is confident that he can return into the German national team at the end of March as he is making progress at Bayern Munich in his return from a severe leg injury.
Playmaker Musiala played 78 minutes in Bayern's 3-2 Bundesliga victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. It was his eighth appearance since he returned to the pitch last month from a leg and ankle fracture sustained in July.
Asked whether he will have a level to return to national team for World Cup tune-ups against Switzerland and Ghana in five weeks time, he said: "I believe so."
Musiala, who became the first player to get 100 Bundesliga victories younger than 23 on Saturday, said the World Cup in summer is his clear aim.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who hopes that Musiala will be a key player at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will announce the squad for the upcoming games on March 19.
Musiala and Bayern are meanwhile continuing with their cautious approach to bring him back to his best.
"My focus is first of all on the game in Dortmund and the following games," he said, referring to next week's Bundesliga topper at second placed Borussia Dortmund.
"I must get back into the rhythm. I ran a lot, had good moments. My mindset is simply to make progress every game - and not to think about the foot," he said after the Frankfurt game.
"I wish it would all go a bit quicker," he added, but is confident to be 100% again one day.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany is taking no chances as he said: "For me he still remains in a zone in which I don't want to put the pressure on him that he must a performance leader. We are happy with as it stands now."
Board member for sport Max Eberl agreed: "Every minute does him good. Every week does him good. For us he is a player who can make a difference. That's what he is to become this season for us - and in the best case in summer also for the DFB (national federation)."