Winter return for Ribery and Robben, say Bayern

Bayern Munich expect influential attacking pair Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben to return from injury in November and January 2011 respectively, the club said Friday.

France international Ribery was sidelined by injury for four months last year and this season it has been a similar story for the attacking midfielder, who suffered ankle ligament damage on September 21.

“When Ribery gets back to training he will have to work on his condition but he’ll start off in much better condition than he did last year (when returning from injury),” Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal told Bild weekly.

Dutch international Robben returned from the World Cup with a thigh injury and Bayern’s sporting director Christian Nerlinger said he is hoping for the striker to take part in a January training camp.

Bundesliga champions Bayern are currently languishing in 12th place with only eight points and a 13-point deficit to surprise leaders Mainz 05.