Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is set to feature for Switzerland this international break.
Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin has admitted that he is “not worried” about Granit Xhaka’s fitness levels as the Sunderland captain heads off on international duty this week.
The veteran midfielder missed five consecutive matches due to an ankle injury recently, but has seemingly returned to full match sharpness, and has started each of the Black Cats’ last two outings - including Sunday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
Next up for Xhaka is a double-header of international friendlies as Switzerland prepare to face Germany on Friday evening before travelling to Norway for a clash on Tuesday. And speaking in a press conference, as quoted by continental outlet Blick, Yakin suggested that, while his captain’s recent complaint is something he is taking into consideration, it is not something he is overly concerned about.
He said: “I’m in close contact with Granit. I’m not worried; he knows his body. We’ll discuss how long he’ll play.” Should Xhaka feature in both of Switzerland’s upcoming matches, he would take his tally of senior international caps to a staggering 145. The 33-year-old made his debut for the national team back in 2011, and has sported the captain’s armband for the past eight years, scoring 16 goals in the process.
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What has Regis Le Bris said about Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka?
Elsewhere, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris has once against emphasised just how significant Xhaka’s arrival on Wearside has been for his team this season. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby showdown with Newcastle, the Black Cats boss lavished praise on his skipper, stating: “From a quality perspective, he is very good. A top class player, it is obvious. At the same time, you can have different players at that level, but they have to fit with the identity of the region, the identity of the club, and it is really the case.
“He’s really committed, always trying to connect players in and out of possession, and his desire is so high. He wants to win every day. The standards he sets every day on the training ground are also really useful because we have many young players. He leads by example.”
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