Mesut Ozil 'Sure' He'll Recover from Back Injury in Time for 2018 World Cup

Mesut Ozil has provided assurances he will be fit to represent Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a recurrence of a back injury saw him ruled out of Arsenal's win over Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday.

The playmaker is unlikely to return for the Gunners before the end of the 2017-18 season but posted on Instagram on Monday that he is "sure" he will be back to full fitness in time for the World Cup, which starts in Russia on June 14.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed after the Gunners' 5-0 drubbing of the Clarets at Emirates Stadium that Ozil, 29, is also set to miss the team's final clashes against Leicester City and Huddersfield Town, per injury analyst Ben Dinnery:

It is not a huge blow, as the Gunners have little left to play for with a sixth-place finish now effectively guaranteed.

For Germany, though, Ozil's fitness is a concern.

Joachim Low's side are travelling to Russia as defending champions and with a genuine chance of becoming the first back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil in 1962.

Ozil played a vital role in Die Mannschaft's 2014 triumph in Brazil, and it will likely come as a huge relief to Low and fans that he is expecting to make a full recovery in time for the 2018 tournament. 

Germany open Group F play against Mexico on June 17 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.