Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Bastian Schweinsteiger could stay at the club beyond the January transfer window following the midfielder's first appearance of the season.
After spending three months exiled from the first team under Mourinho, the German World Cup winner was welcomed back into first-team training to provide injury cover.
The 32-year-old, who has 18 months left on his contract, opted against leaving the club in the summer, despite learning that he will have limited game time at Old Trafford.
Schweinsteiger received a warm reception from United fans when he came on in the 86th minute of the team's 4-1 victory over West Ham United in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night.
Mourinho has suggested that the former Bayern Munich star may feature again as the season continues.
When asked in Friday's press conference if Schweinsteiger could stay at the club beyond January, Mourinho told reporters: "Of course he can. When you have a contract with the club, you are the powerful one, the one who can decide your future. So, in the summer, we tried to make something happen for Bastian, to get him a different future. He decided to stay, even in difficult circumstances, and he worked for that, so he deserved that little happiness of the last match.
"In January again he will be the powerful one, and probably with a better feeling than before because, now he's working with the team, he understands better our dynamic, our philosophy. You can see from the other day he is someone who is so proud of his efforts, of his determination, and I like people with determination.
"Everybody was happy for him, because when he was not training with the team he did it in a professional way. He's another one who can help us. During the season there are injuries and suspensions. Pogba and Fellaini were both suspended in that match and he was ready."
Schweinsteiger joined the Red Devils from Bayern in 2015.
Danielle Joynson
