Hamburg (dpa) – Captain Manuel Neuer has returned to training and is expected to be in goal for Germany’s World Cup qualifier in North Macedonia on Monday.

Coach Hansi Flick said on Sunday that Neuer trained over the full session and added “I expect it to work out” that he can play.

Neuer missed Friday’s 2-1 win against Romania with an adductor problem and also did not train on Saturday. Marc-Andre ter Stegen played in his place.

Flick said he expects to have all 23 players available, including centre-back Antonio Ruediger who did not train Sunday as a “precaution” owing to some back problems.

Germany can clinch a place at next year’s World Cup with victory in Skopje, and if Armenia don’t beat Romania in another Group J game.

But North Macedonia surprised Germany 2-1 in their first meeting which was only the third defeat ever for Germany in a World Cup qualifier, all of them in home games.

Forward Serge Gnabry said “this game still upsets us” and Flick urged his team to show “enormous activity” on Monday.