Welcome news on Ribery injury

Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery expressed his relief after learning on Sunday that his knee injury was not as serious as initially thought.

The France international was expected to face a long-term stint on the sidelines after limping off in the first half of Bayern’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Wolfsburg on Saturday.

But scans revealed that Ribery will only need to miss training for the next five days, although he is unlikely to take the field for Bayern’s league clash at home to Kaiserslautern this weekend.

“There is some luck in the misfortune,” Ribery, who has just returned from a three-month injury break after damaging ankle ligaments in November, said after receiving the results.

“I am naturally disappointed on the one hand that I am now injured again.”

“On the other hand, I am to some extent relieved that it did not turn out to be a serious injury.”

Defending champions Bayern sit 16 points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund after 18 games.