Ribery´s relief after friendly game

Bayern Munich’s France star Franck Ribery played 60 minutes of a friendly for the German giants before insisting his troublesome knee is behind him less than five months before the World Cup.

The 26-year-old made his first Bundesliga appearance for more than three months in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Werder Bremen having spent the autumn struggling with a patella ligament strain in his left knee.

But Ribery played a full hour of Tuesday’s 2-0 friendly win over third-division leaders Ingolstadt and reported no problems.

“It was a good test for me,” said the Frenchman, who is set to star for his country at the World Cup which takes place in South Africa from June 11-July 11 where France have drawn Uruguay, Mexico and the host nation in Group A.

“The knee didn’t give me any problems and that is the most important thing.”

But Ribery could not say when he will be back to full fitness.

“I am working hard in order to be able to start each game again,” he said.

“I am not yet 100 percent fit again, but I simply need the match practice, it did me well to play again today.”

Ribery says he expects to play at least a half of Saturday’s Bundesliga match against Mainz at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Bayern are currently second in the Bundesliga and two points behind leaders Leverkusen while Mainz are eighth in the table.