Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is looking forward to making his international comeback after missing almost a year due to a string of injuries, but he is not yet thinking about the 2018 World Cup. World champions Germany take on the Czech Republic on October 8 and host Northern Ireland three days later in World Cup Qualifiers, with Gundogan hoping to win his first cap since November 2015.The talented 25-year-old, who signed for Manchester City in the close season and has shed almost four kilos as he returned to fitness, missed the 2014 World Cup as well as Euro 2016 through injury. It is great to be here again. I did not realise it was actually such a long time since my last game. But I know the feeling of a comeback well from the past few years, he said.I just want to enjoy the moment and if I am needed I will be there. I will give it all I can and I cannot ask for more at the moment. Gundogan is looking to live in the moment and put his injury travails behind him Gundogan is seen as the natural successor to former captain and playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has retired from international football. Injuries, however, have frequently set him back.It would be great if my career would be similar to that of Bastian. We all know what he has done for German football, Gundogan said. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. It is an honour [to be named as his successor] but it is not an issue for me. I play my game which is not necessarily exactly like his game. Everything else is not that important.He said the 2018 World Cup was not yet on his radar and he was simply hoping l. Gundogan has paid tribute to his former team-mate Bastain Schweinsteiger I have not been successful with tournaments. This is not on purpose that I get injured shortly before, he said.It was extremely bitter to miss the past two major tournaments. Maybe that is why I want to be healthier and I am not thinking about Russia. I am just happy to be fit again and reach 100 per cent, to stay healthy and enjoy the moment. You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Bundesliga fixtures Bundesliga table Man City video Man City fixtures Brandon Allen Jersey . Bostons bats exploded in Mondays opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1. Marcus Peters Jersey . Summers has seen scant playing time with the Coyotes since being selected 29th overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played in 47 career NHL games. http://www.laramsfootballshops.com/john-kelly-jersey/.com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. Brian Allen Rams Jersey . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St. Marcus Peters Rams Jersey . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby.MINNEAPOLIS - As Joe Mauer walked back to the dugout, the bat in his hand and a sour look on his face, there were boos from the Minnesota crowd. Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. Failures this year have piled up for Mauer faster than usual for the six-time All-Star, three-time American League batting champion and one-time AL MVP. "Im a heck of a lot more frustrated than they are," Mauer said that night, when asked about those jeering fans. The sound of those boos has been jarring, considering hes the hometown guy from St. Paul with the handsome looks and the hitting skills to build a .321 career batting average, the best among all active players in baseball with at least 3,000 plate appearances. Minnesotans are fiercely proud of and protective of their natives, so Mauer figured to have a lifetime pass in the popularity department here. After signing that $184 million, eight-year contract extension in 2010, though, he has become a more-frequent target of criticism from fans frustrated by the teams struggles the past several years. The 28 home runs he hit in 138 games in 2009 were a one-year wonder. Lingering lower-body injuries limited him to 82 games in 2011. This season, his on-base-plus-slugging percentage was at a career-low .704 entering the weekend series in New York. Mauer is also on pace to blow by his career-high strikeout total of 89 set last year. "I feel pretty good actually, which is even more frustrating," he said.dddddddddddd. "Im hitting a lot of balls hard and just not having much to show for it. So hopefully that turns here soon." Mauer isnt the only one sputtering with the Twins. The teams batting average with runners in scoring position fell to .214, the second-worst in the league, after losing three of four games to Texas this week. "Were putting together a lot of good at-bats but still not driving people in with runners in scoring position. Thats the main focus, getting guys on, but we cant get them in," second baseman Brian Dozier said. Mauer reluctantly gave up his job as the catcher to better protect himself from another concussion, after missing the final six weeks of last season following a foul tip that hit him in the head. The loss to the Twins of Mauers intelligence and defence behind the plate was supposed to be trumped by an increase in his availability and production at a less-taxing position. He missed five games with back spasms earlier this month, but since then he said he feels fine. The problem has been these paltry totals: nine extra-base hits and 15 RBIs through Thursday. "The expectations are very high for him. People get frustrated. I just dont want Joe to get frustrated. I know he is a little bit right now, because he doesnt have the results he wants. But I dont want to put any more pressure on the guy," manager Ron Gardenhire said. 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