Reus keen to make a difference in Germany's World Cup defence

A fit-again Marco Reus is inching to participate in his maiden World Cup for the defending champion Germany.

Marco Reus in the German training camp ahead of the World Cup

Marco Reus described his injury-forced absence from Germany's touring party to the 2014 World up as a broken dream. It was just a day before the squad had to leave for the tournament when Reus tore a ligament on his left knee. Despite his absence, Germany went onto win the title.

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It might have been a sense of deja vu for the Borussia Dortmund winger when another injury in May ruled him out of action for eight months. But, after another rehabilitation process, Reus returned to the domestic fold in February. A fine run of seven goals in 15 matches has seen him named in Joachim Low's 23-man squad for Germany's title defence.

It was almost until five months until Reus could kick another ball. "I needed a few days to get that feel for the ball again, to find my rhythm. For the heart and soul, it really was a great moment being back with the football," the 28-year-old DFB.de .

The former Borussia Monchengladbach winger attributes his desire to drive his team forward as the reason for his swift return to goal-scoring form and is eager to do the same for the national team. "I definitely want to help the team on the pitch. When the tournament starts, I’ll be 29. I know what I’m capable of. The coach will decide who plays and every player has to respect his decisions. Like in every tournament, for every individual and for us as a team, it’ll come down to fine details," said Reus.

With Germany kicking-off its campaign against Mexico on June 17, the international of 29 caps is not looking ahead of his group stage opponents. "I’m sure that if the team finds its rhythm and takes on board the way we want to play, there’s a lot going in Germany’s favour. But there’s also no point in already speculating who we could face in the quarterfinals. No one should underestimate our group with Mexico, South Korea and Sweden, as a lot will be demanded of us in those games.

"Over the course of the tournament, we’ll definitely have to win at least one or two really close games that will be decided by centimetres or an individual. But that’s what football is all about, especially at a World Cup. As a player, I want to be on the pitch for those kinds of games."

With the influential winger on the pitch, he could prove to be the X-factor in Germany's attack as it aims to become the third side in history to win back-to-back World Cups.