Mourinho: Why Schweinsteiger is back

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has clarified the situation with Bastian Schweinsteiger, explaining it was a "human decision" to include the midfielder in first-team training again.

Schweinsteiger, who has not made an appearance for the Reds this season, was pictured being put through his paces with the senior squad on Monday. But the German was not in the squad that flew to Turkey for Thursday’s game against Fenerbahce, as he is ineligible for the Europa League group stages.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Mourinho revealed that the decision to include Schweinsteiger in training was taken last Thursday and the German was informed a day later. The manager feels the World Cup winner will benefit personally and could also be an option if there are injuries in midfield, like United are currently experiencing in defence.

"It's a decision based on the fact that we are in a period of the season where it's really difficult to train with everyone together," Mourinho said. 

"At the moment, the day after we've played, the players train in a separate group – they do a specific recovery session. The group, instead of being 23 or 24, becomes 13 or 14, and then, with injuries, maybe 10 or 11. 

"Many times, we go to the Academy to bring some young boys to have a group with the perfect numbers to train, match after match, week after week. Now, for example, on Friday, the players that play here [in Istanbul] are not going to train with the main group and this is the normal routine. 

"Looking at Bastian and the way he was working professionally with the fitness coach, we think that it's a human decision, a professional decision, to bring him back to the team. He'll be much better prepared and in much better condition in case his future decision is to leave the club; he'll be much better prepared for competition if he stays with us. 

"It becomes one more option. At the moment, we have no problems in midfield like we have in defence but, if we have problems in midfield, it's another option for us. It's a human decision based on the training numbers and methods, but also a decision that can be positive for the group. It's positive for us and for him."