United States international Timothy Chandler has declared he is now fully fit to challenge for a place in the Eintracht Frankfurt team after struggling to win a starting place since his return to the club in the summer.
Chandler, 24, made the move back to Frankfurt following FC Nurnberg's relegation to the second tier last season after four years away.
He worked his way through the youth system at Die Adler from 2001 to 2010, but then opted to join 1.FC Nurnberg to make his first steps in professional football and went on to make 95 appearances for the club.
The defender has, however, found it difficult to break into the Frankfurt first XI under the new coach Thomas Schaaf.
In the first three competitive games he was used as a substitute once, and unused in the other two matches, and the right-back spot has been taken by makeshift defender Aleksandar Ignjovski, 23.
"I am ready. I've played some 70 minutes for the USMNT last week [vs. Czech Republic]," Chandler told German football weekly kicker on Thursday.
Chandler also explained that he has now returned to full fitness following the 2014 World Cup, having seen his preseason start late.
But Ignjovski, who already trained under Schaaf at Werder Bremen, has no plans to give up his new position. "I prefer to play at right-back, just like in preseason," the holding midfielder told kicker.