Bayern Munich expect injured attacking duo Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben to return this winter.
Ribery and Robben boost for Munich
Bayern Munich are expecting injured attacking duo Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben to return in November and January respectively.
France international Ribery, who was sidelined by injury for four months last year, has suffered more problems this season after damaging ligaments in his ankle last month.
However, the 27-year-old winger is likely to return in November according to Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal.
Condition
Van Gaal told
Bild: "When Ribery gets back to training he will have to work on his condition but he'll start off in much better condition than he did last year (when returning from injury)."
Meanwhile, Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger expects Dutch international Robben, who returned from the World Cup with a thigh injury, to partake in a January training camp.
Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern have endured a miserable start to the season, collecting just eight points from their seven opening games to sit 12th in the table, 13 points adrift of surprise leaders Mainz.
Germany finished third at the World Cup and eight of the current Munich squad were involved in the tournament.
However, defender Philipp Lahm insists his side can no longer blame their poor run of form on fatigue from South Africa.
"We have to stop using fatigue from the World Cup as an excuse," said Lahm, who will captain Germany in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey on Friday night.
"The problem at Bayern Munich is that you are always under pressure to win and sometimes that pressure is crippling."
With Bayern so behind in the early standings, Lahm admits it will be a tough task making up the deficit.
Mistakes
"Of course we won't give up, but we must score more goals and stop making mistakes," he added.
"Then maybe we can pick up some points and hope at the end we have made up the 13 points.
"It just adds a new problem. Now we are far behind in the league, so there is added pressure to give everything we can.
"It's like a chain reaction: it starts with the mind, then goes to the body, and then comes back to the mind, because you lose confidence, of course."
