Germany coach Joachim Low hopes to have Bastian Schweinsteiger available for Euro 2016 even though the Manchester United midfielder could miss the rest of the season through injury.
The 31-year-old suffered a partial tear of his knee ligaments while on international duty with his country last month and is not expected to feature again for the Red Devils in what has been a season ravaged by injury.
Low nevertheless only needs to know that Schweinsteiger is fit at the end of May to pick his captain in the squad he takes to France with him this summer.
"Right now, I still have hope that he will make it in time for the start of the European Championship in France," Low told Eurosport.
"We've got to take it week by week and talk to him about it. He's keeping me informed as to how far he is, and we just have to see how quickly he recovers from it."
Low is also optimistic about being able to name Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng in his Euro 2016 squad, with the 27-year-old returning to training this week after three months out with a groin injury.
However, he hopes his club are cautious about Boateng's comeback, in spite of the many important fixtures they have coming up.
"He's got to get back into form but I hope that Bayern are not too hasty in sending him back into battle," Low said.
"After such a long injury, you've got to be a bit careful.
"There are problems before any tournament - in 2014 Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger were injured, but we coped.
"But of course I hope that they all remain fit and healthy and that those who are injured come back."
Source: PA
