Bayern Munich sporting executive Matthias Sammer remains optimistic about Bastian Schweinsteiger's chances of returning to action in 2014.
Schweinsteiger, 30, has been sidelined with ongoing knee problems ever since Germany's successful World Cup-winning campaign.
The midfielder only played for a handful of minutes to fulfill contractual obligations during Bayern's friendly against MLS All-Stars in Portland in August, but has not been able to feature again or even take part in training since.
Last week, a report in Bild claimed that Schweinsteiger will not make his comeback before 2015, and Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff admitted that there is "no exact prognosis" for the new Nationalmannschaft captain's return.
"Schweinsteiger is not too happy because he's not fit," Bayern and Germany teammate Manuel Neuer added.
However, speaking to kicker, Sammer said he is confident that Schweinsteiger can make his comeback before the turn of the year.
"There is absolutely no reason to today say that he will not play again this year," he said. "Of course it is possible that 'Basti' returns in 2014. That's not unrealistic at all."
Sammer also said that Schweinsteiger -- who missed out on Bayern's annual visit to Oktoberfest last week with a bout of tonsillitis -- could return to individual training later this week as his patellar tendon problems have not got any worse recently.
"His knee is on the road to recovery. We are optimistic," he said.
According to kicker, since 2011, Schweinsteiger has missed 33.5 percent of all of Bayern's Bundesliga games, while sitting out 55.3 percent of all Germany matches.