January date for Bayern’s Robben

(GSM) – Bayern München winger Arjen Robben can make a January return from injury, according to general manager Christian Nerlinger.

The 26-year-old, who has been sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury playing for Netherlands during the summer, has not featured in a single game in the current campaign.

His absence has been a real blow for Bayern as the Dutch star played a key role for them last season, with the highlight being helping the German outfit to the UEFA Champions League final.

Nerlinger hopes Robben could return to the first-team early next year if his training and rehab goes well.

He told BILD: “We are going to have a training camp in Qatar at the start of January 2011 to prepare for the second half of the season in the Bundesliga.

“The plan is that Arjen Robben will return to first-team training with us right then.

“If everything is going fine then, I expect him to be a contender for a role in the starting line-up from the middle of January 2011.

“Him back in a good shape will be a boost to our hopes, that’s a fact.”

Robben joined Bayern last year from Real Madrid for a transfer fee of around €25 million.

After his first season at the Bavarian club, Robben was named Footballer of the Year in Germany.