Facing a rocky road back from a thigh injury and uncertainty over his place in Japan's squad for the World Cup in Brazil, Atsuto Uchida returned to German first-division club Schalke on Saturday after completing rehabilitation in Japan.
Uchida suffered the injury in a 2-0 Bundesliga win at home to Hannover 96 on Feb. 9.
The 25-year-old Uchida opted not to undergo surgery. No time frame has been put on his recovery.
"If I hurt (the thigh) again, then there will be no chance (of playing at the World Cup)," Uchida told reporters at Narita airport before leaving for Germany.