How Thiago Alcantara Can Return and Fit Back into This Bayern Munich's Side

Bayern Munich are flying high at the top of the Bundesliga table and look set to at least challenge for another European title this season, leading to suggestions that this club are in a very comfortable position.

What will of course add to this joyous sense of occasion is the return of Philipp Lahm, who returned to the first team on Saturday in a small cameo against Werder Bremen after picking up a long-term injury that had ruled him out since the end of last year.

However, the club captain isn't the only star who's on the mend and could soon demand a spot in the first team.

Thiago Alcantara should be back before too long and will undoubtedly be looking to dislodge one of his team-mates in the Bayern midfield.

Speaking to the Bundesliga website this week, the returning star had no qualms about declaring his desire to be in the first team once again.

"I really want to be a part of the team and be able to enjoy it again," said the Spanish stalwart, "it’s hard for me to watch a Bayern game without being involved or not being able to be there."

What will perhaps offer the most hope for Thiago getting back into this side is the fact that no other central midfielder in the squad can quite do what he does so well.

Gero Breloer/Associated Press

Xabi Alonso can pass the ball just as well—if not better—and Bastian Schweinsteiger may offer a more physical aspect to the midfield battle.

With that said, neither at this stage in their career can tick all the boxes quite like the energetic former Barcelona star.

While Alonso and Schweinsteiger seem much more specified in their talents and what they bring to the team, Thiago could certainly jump back into this side and be that jack-of-all-trades that has at times been missing from manager Pep Guardiola's side.

If Thiago can't find a place for himself in the centre of Bayern's midfield and indeed dislodge Alonso, Schweinstegier or Lahm, then Guardiola may look further up the park for a position in which his technical starlet may thrive.

If the 23-year-old were to pick a position for himself in this current Bayern side, it would perhaps be likelier that he would look to Mario Gotze and the role he seems to hold in the No. 10 position with an envious and hungry look.

There's no doubt Thiago's skills currently favour a central midfield role—he enjoys playing with the game in front of him and often moves laterally rather than back and forth up the field.

However, with his exceptional speed and ball control, there's no doubt he could move between the lines of any defence.

This is of course far from a new idea. Thiago has played in an attacking midfielder role before for Bayern throughout last season's campaign.

Against Dortmund in November of last season the Spaniard came on to play in a No. 10 role and set up a late goal. Against Stuttgart last January, he scored and set up a goal when played through he middle of midfield.

The man keeping him out of the squad—Gotze—has been playing relatively well but is by no means undroppable. Although the German international seems to be thriving in the Champions League—like the rest of this side—he has only managed to contribute two goals and an assist in the last 12 Bundesliga games, according to transfermarkt.

Should Thiago impress in training and demand a spot at No. 10, Gotze is doing very little to keep Guardiola convinced of his own attributes in the side.

Follow Stefan on Twitter @Sbienkowski.