Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin has said he is delighted to have played his part in the club's recent Bundesliga revival.
Turkey international Sahin, who has been key to BVB's recent revival in recent weeks, sat out the goalless draw at Hamburg with an adductor muscle injury.
The 26-year-old, who came back to Dortmund in January 2013 after spells at Real Madrid and Liverpool, missed much of the club's difficult first half of the season with a knee injury.
Speaking about his return to fitness, which has helped kick-start a revival since the winter break, he told kicker: "I realise that I have been finding my game with every minute on the pitch, and performing well.
"It fits perfectly that we, at the same time, are collecting points and climbing the table, and I am delighted to contribute my share.
"That's exactly what I want -- to be in the thick of things, be important, score goals and set them up, win tackles."
Dortmund, at one stage bottom of the table, are now six points clear of the relegation playoff place.
And Sahin said: "When I am healthy and have the confidence, I can play a good role. I know from talks with the coach that I bring stability to the match through my style.
"It was always said that defence is my weakness, but I see it differently -- defence is my strength. I draw confidence and power from it to also bring out the main points in attack."
Sahin and Ilkay Gundogan have formed a key partnership in the BVB midfield, but is unclear whether Gundogan will be at the club beyond the summer.
The Germany international is under contract at Dortmund until 2016, and the club have already said that they will not go into the new season with him entering the final 12 months of his deal.
He has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but Dortmund CEO Aki Watzke told Sport1 the club were "not completely without hope" of extending his stay.
Gundogan has so far kept quiet on the subject of a potential new deal, but said the players were "euphoric" after Marco Reus extended his stay.