Robben to miss two games with muscle injury
Reuters - Friday 16 November 2012, 11:52
Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben has been ruled out of his team's upcoming
matches in the Bundesliga and the Champions League after a minor muscle
tear sustained while on international duty, coach Jupp Heynckes said on
Friday.
Winger Robben, who
only recently returned after a four-week absence due to a back injury,
will miss Saturday's Bavarian derby against Nuremberg as well as the
clash at Valencia in the Champions League next week.
"He
will not be at our disposal tomorrow and against Valencia," coach Jupp
Heynckes told reporters. He said the club would have to see how Robben
recovered after that.
The Dutch international was injured in the 0-0 friendly draw against Germany in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
It
is not the first time Robben has come back with an injury from
international duty. He missed the first half of the 2010/11 season after
being injured during the 2010 World Cup, with Bayern Munich arguing
with the Dutch federation for months over compensation.
Robben
will most likely be joined on the sidelines by Luiz Gustavo, who has
been nursing minor muscle problems for the past two weeks.
"Luiz is not feeling well and will most likely not be with us," Heynckes said.
The
coach, however, can again count on defender Holger Badstuber, who will
be included in the squad after a three-week layoff due to a torn muscle.
Forward Mario Gomez could also slip into the squad after recovering from ankle surgery in August.
"It
is my job to bring him back carefully," said Heynckes, adding a final
decision on the striker would be taken later on Friday.
Bayern
are top of the Bundesliga with a seven-point lead over second-placed
Schalke 04 after winning 10 of 11 league games.