Tuesday 15 September 2015 17:22, UK
Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expects Franck Ribery to return from injury this year.
The Frenchman has been out of action since March after suffering an ankle injury in a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk.
It was initially thought he would only be sidelined for a few days but, six months on, Bayern still cannot provide a comeback date.
"It is now mid-September and I think it will be the case that during 2015 he will be a whirling again," Rummenigge told reporters.
"What was important is to have the right diagnosis and treatment. I am not that pessimistic and I think in the not too distant future he will come back. That of course does not mean this week or next week.
"But he will come back. I am fully convinced of that and that is the key thing."
The 32-year-old missed the final stretch of Bayern's league title-winning season as well as the entire pre-season as he still struggled with the injury.
New signing Douglas Costa has been in superb form in Ribery's natural position, making any quick return to the starting line-up even more improbable.
Bayern, who also have fellow winger Arjen Robben out injured, are level with Borussia Dortmund on 12 points at the top of the Bundesliga and kick off their Champions League group stage with a game at Olympiakos in Piraeus on Wednesday.
