Fighting-fit Klose keeps the pressure on at Bayern

Germany’s Miroslav Klose plans to fire both his country and Bayern Munich to success in the coming weeks as the German giants look to keep up the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.

The 31-year-old, the top-scorer at the 2006 World Cup, scored his first German league goal of the season in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Hoffenheim which leaves Bayern two points behind Leverkusen.

But Saturday’s clash at his former club Bremen promises to be a battle royal and, although he is set to start on the bench, Klose looks sure to be used by Bayern coach Louis van Gaal.

Munich have scored 17 goals in their last five league matches and the return of the killer instinct in front of goal has sent the club off on an impressive winning run as they are now 11 league games without defeat.

Mario Gomez (five goals in the last six games) and Ivica Olic (four in the last five) have claimed regular status up front, but now Klose is pushing hard to win back his place in the starting line-up.

“My goal is to become a regular again as fast as possible,” he said having suffered a string of injuries including ankle surgery and a sprained elbow which hampered his autumn.

“Provided I?m fit and avoid injury I?ll be picked to play, at Bayern and for Germany, because when I?m fit, I?m the best,” he said with the World Cup in South Afria now five months away.

With three quality strikers fighting for two places at Bayern, Klose intends to carry the fight to Germany’s Gomez and Croatia’s Olic.

But Klose may have to be patient in terms of his first start since mid-November, as van Gaal reaffirmed his faith in Gomez and Olic after the Hoffenheim game.

“I won?t change anything for the trip to Bremen,” he said.

Bayern are expected to welcome back midfielder Franck Ribery, but will be up against a tough Bremen midfield which includes rising Germany stars Mesut Oezil and Marko Marin.

Ribery has been out of action with a troublesome knee injury since October 3 and is expected to play some role in the clash against sixth-placed Bremen.

Both Bayern and second-placed Schalke, who are at Bochum on Saturday, have the chance to take top spot in the league with leaders Leverkusen travelling to play Hoffenheim on Sunday.

Bottom side Hertha Berlin are looking for their second straight win at home to Moenchengladbach having finally broken their winless run at Hanover last weekend.

Saturday

Werder Bremen v Bayern Munich

VfL Bochum v Schalke 04

Mainz 05 v Hanover 96

Nuremberg v Eintracht Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin v Borussia M’gladbach

Borussia Dortmund v Hamburg

Sunday

VfL Wolfsburg v Cologne

Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen