Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says the club must be cautious over Bastian Schweinsteiger's return from injury, and will take the midfielder's recovery "step by step."
Schweinsteiger, 30, is now back in full team training after missing the start of the season through a persistent knee tendon problem.
It's great to see @BSchweinsteiger back on the training field! #FootballLegend #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/ABCzmof4Kt
- FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) November 11, 2014
With a comeback now looking imminent, Guardiola has called on Bayern fans to wait just a little longer as the World Cup winner, and new Germany captain, looks to return to the starting XI.
"It's step by step," Guardiola said on his club's official website. "We have first got to see where he is at.
"He's been injured for a long time and needs training sessions, but he has a great deal of experience, is a great personality and knows his own body very well.
"It's good news for him that he's back, but also for us and for Bayern Munich. He was the most important player here in the last 10 years and now we've got to try to get him back to his old form."
As soon as Guardiola knew Schweinsteiger was going to miss most, if not all, of the first half of the season he made his move for Xabi Alonso.
"He's settled in extremely quickly," said Guardiola. "Sometimes it can be a huge problem for players moving to a new country, but for others it makes no difference.
"Our kind of football suits some players more than others, but if the player has the will to be able to help the team, then sooner or later he is going to fit in well."
Alonso has made a considerable contribution to the cause, repeatedly breaking league records for the number of touches for a single player in a game.
But Guardiola believes the former Real Madrid playmaker and his teammates can still do better, adding: "In terms of the results, we certainly can't complain. But we must not forget that it's only November and there's still a lot of time to come.
"Just looking at the results, we and the fans are happy and we're heading in the right direction, but looking at the way we are playing, then there is still quite a bit of work to do."
Bayern have a four-point cushion over Wolfsburg at the top of the Bundesliga standings after almost a third of the season.
Borussia Monchengladbach are a further three points behind, while last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund are already 17 points off Die Roten.