Luca Toni on the mend

Bayern Munich’s Italian striker Luca Toni, currently being treated for an Achilles tendon problem in Italy, is on the mend and should be back at the Bavarian club next week, coach Louis van Gaal said on Friday.

“One of the physios went to see him in Italy and brought back good news,” said van Gaal ahead of Bayern’s Bundesliga clash Saturday with Werder Bremen.

“We’re expecting him to return on August 20. I hope that he’ll have no further pain and that he can train with his teammates,” added the Dutchman.

World Cup winner Toni, the top Bundesliga scorer in 2007-08, has not participated in any of Bayern’s pre-season training sessions because of the pain.

Despite his 38 Bundesliga goals last season, the 2006 world champion is not sure of recovering his place after Bayern recruited German international Mario Gomez for 30 million euros and Croatia’s Ivica Olic.