Manchester United: Joachim Low hopeful of Bastian Schweinsteiger's return from knee injury ahead of Euro 2016 campaign

Bastian Schweinsteiger is facing the prospect of missing the rest of the Premier League campaign with a recurrence of a knee injury that has dogged him since the start of the year. The German midfielder missed 13 games between January and March with a similar injury and played just one game following his return before sustaining an injury while on duty with the national team.

Louis van Gaal has already confirmed that the Manchester United midfielder is unlikely to return before the end of the season, which also puts his participation with Germany in the European Championship finals later this year in doubt. The Red Devils midfielder, however, has been handed a boost in his recovery process after German manager Joachim Low admitted that he still had hope of taking Schweinsteiger to France for Euro 2016 in June this year.

"At the moment, I'm still full of hope that he will be ready by the start of the European Championship," Low said, as quoted on the Germany football association (DFB) site. "He always lets me know how he's getting along," he added.

Van Gaal has already admitted that he will approve his participation in the summer tournament as that will give him a chance to get back to match fitness and be fit for United's 2016/17 campaign. Schweinsteiger will be hoping that he can recover, as Germany look to complete the double of being world and European champions simultaneously following their triumph in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

"I think, next season, he is prepared. I don't think Schweinsteiger shall play this season," Van Gaal said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

"Maybe he is prepared for the European Championship, I cannot predict. It is possible, but then that is also in our favour because then he is fit for the new competition."