Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz is to make his comeback from injury in the Bundesliga game against Union Berlin on Saturday.
"He's fit and he's in the squad. He can play from the start," coach Xabi Alonso said in a news conference on Friday.
Wirtz had been sidelined since early March due to a ligament injury in his right ankle.
During his absence, Bundesliga and German Cup champions Leverkusen were eliminated from the Champions League and their Cup title defence ended with a 2-1 shock defeat to third-division Arminia Bielefeld.
His return is an important boost for the team in the Bundesliga title race, in which Leverkusen are six points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
"I've always said that we're a better team with Flo. Flo is a player who makes the difference. We need him and we missed him, especially in the Champions League and the German Cup. We play better with him," Alonso said.
Wirtz has a contract with Leverkusen until 2027, but Bayern are very interested in signing the player.
Asked about the transfer speculation, Alonso said: "His mentality and his wish were to be quickly fit and back with the team and to have fun. This is not a topic for us. We don't talk about it."
