Neuer's World Cup fitness race getting tight

Neuer, who when fit is Germany and Bayern Munich's first-choice keeper, suffered a fracture to his metatarsal in September. The keeper was originally injured in Bayern Munich's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, but aggravated the problem after he was rushed back to fitness too quickly at the start of the 2017/18 season.

The German has been out on the sidelines ever since, and his return date has been repeatedly pushed back as the year has gone on. The original prediction for his return was March, but it is now the 14th of the month and Neuer isn't even training yet.

Bayern Munich's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic recently spoke to 'TZ', a Munich-based outlet, and played down the pessimism surrounding the keeper's return. "Manuel is in recovery, and it's looking good," he stated. "He is doing exercises every day and it is all going to plan. We are going to give him all the time he needs. He wants to be back on the pitch but it's always a conversation between him and the physios."

The German national side's goalkeeping coach echoed Salihamidzic's thoughts. "I am in constant contact with Manuel and everything is going according to plan," he said. "We'd rather he spent one or two weeks longer on the sidelines than risk being fit for the World Cup."

However, there is no doubt that it is going to be a tight call for German national coach Joachim Low. Neuer will most likey be back in training in April, leaving him a few weeks of playing time in the Bundesliga. However, he will not be back to his previous level straight away, and it will be a big call for Jupp Heynckes, who could see it as a risk to put him back in the team so late in the season, especially if Bayern find themself in the last rounds of the Champions League. 

Furthermore, Joachim Low will have to pick his World Cup squad before the 15th of May, meaning Neuer will have to make it back to fitness by then, with or without first team football at Bayern. Neuer will no-doubt be desperate to captain his country in Russia, but it is going to be a tight race to fitness for the keeper, and time will tell who will win.