Germany winger Leroy Sane has returned to first-team training ahead of Sunday's crucial World Cup 2022 Group E clash against Spain.

The 26-year-old missed Die Mannschaft's shock 2-1 defeat against Japan on Wednesday due to a knee injury, but he has since been pictured training at their base in Al-Shamal with his right knee strapped up.

Head coach Hansi Flick has stated that it is a "positive" to have Sane back on the training pitch, but it remains to be seen whether the Bayern Munich man is fit to feature against Spain.

Should Sane recover in time to start on Sunday, one of Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala or Serge Gnabry will likely drop to the substitutes' bench.

Shielding goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer, a back four of Niklas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck and David Raum is set to remain intact, although Thilo Kehrer will be pushing to start at right-back ahead of Sule.

Ilkay Gundogan – who scored from the penalty spot in the defeat against Japan – is expected to continue alongside Joshua Kimmich in centre-midfield, leaving Leon Goretzka to watch on again from the bench.

Kai Havertz has acknowledged that he did not do his "bloody duty" in front of goal against Japan, but the Chelsea man is hoping to retain his place up front ahead of Karim Adeyemi, Niclas Fullkrug and Youssoufa Moukoko.

Germany possible starting lineup: Neuer; Sule, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Gundogan; Gnabry, Muller, Musiala; Havertz

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