Andre Schurrle urges Manchester United to keep faith with Bastian Schweinsteiger

Former Chelsea midfielder Andre Schurrle thinks Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho must be patient with Bastian Schweinsteiger. The 31-year-old World Cup-winning star scored Germany's second goal in their 2-0 win against against Ukraine in their Euro 2016 opener and Schurrle claims Schweinsteiger still has a role to play at Old Trafford.

Schweinsteiger endured an injury-plagued first season at United, which prompted speculation he could leave the club this summer. But Schurrle – who played under Mourinho at Chelsea – insisted he could prove influential next season.

"I don't know what Mourinho's plans are at Manchester United but I hope he gives [Schweinsteiger] time because he's a great player," said Schurrle, according to The Daily Mail. "I think so, I hope so. He's a great person.

"Mentally, he's so strong. He knows what to do on the pitch and he's so calm. We've seen it in the training sessions. He's been one-and-a-half weeks with the team and class is permanent, you know."

Schurrle explained it is not easy to make the transition from Germany to England, where Schweinsteiger will have encountered a different style of football at United. He admitted, too, that Schweinsteiger's adaptation was slowed by injury troubles.

"It's not that easy to come from the Bundesliga into the Premier League. It's something different and it was not easy for him when he came with the injuries," he said of the United man. "It was a hard year for him. When he's fit, when he's the leader he wants to be, he makes every team better."