#9 Luca Toni ~ Offered new contract

[Oliver_Kahn]

A battery of camera lenses followed Luca Toni every step of the way from the dressing room to the team photo shoot on Tuesday morning. A visibly relieved Uli Hoeneß followed a couple of yards behind, the creases of concern which had furrowed the general manager's brow on Sunday afternoon now gone for good.

The €11 million goal-getter had limped from the field after an accidental collision in the first half of Bayern's friendly against Albstadt, and only took his place on the bench after a lengthy spell of treatment to his right knee. Two days later, Toni was walking without obvious discomfort or any suggestion of a serious injury.

Hoeneß anxious

"I was a bit nervous," Hoeneß admitted on Tuesday, although the diagnosis issued on Monday evening, whereby the Italian had suffered nothing more than a stretched ligament just below the knee, had put the board director's mind at rest. "Thankfully, it's nowhere near as bad as we initially feared," he remarked. The World Cup winner will be unable to train for 10 days. "It would have been a disaster if he was out for longer," Hoeneß continued.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld similarly made no attempt to hide his relief. "Obviously it was a shock when Luca Toni got injured. A great weight fell from my shoulders yesterday," the coach reported. Bayern are short of options up front at the moment, with Lukas Podolski and Jan Schlaudraff both still recovering from surgery.

Doubtful for opener

"But it's still a setback," Hitzfeld observed. Toni was unable to train for three months after a foot operation in May, and the 30-year-old was clearly less fit than many of his team-mates at the Donaueschingen training camp. "He'll need time before he can go a full 90 minutes. Like I've said, it's a setback," Hitzfeld summarised.

The Italian will spend the coming days in the weights room and the swimming pool. "I hope Luca can catch up as soon as possible in terms of fitness," the head coach remarked. "But I think he's doubtful for the first game of the season."

Santa Cruz no real option

Despite Toni's short-term absence, Hitzfeld intends to maintain his preferred 4-4-2 formation, with reserve striker Sandro Wagner partnering Miroslav Klose in Wednesday's friendly against Monchengladbach. "He's done well in our friendlies so far," the General commented.

Nor will the club seek a remedy in the transfer market. "We're definitely not signing a new striker," Hitzfeld insisted. Roque Santa Cruz remains on the books in Munich, but the want-away striker has no part in the coach's future plans. "Right now, we might be glad at having another striker in the squad, but we're not reckoning on fielding Roque for another full year."

[Forza_Roma]

Thank goodness only 10 days and it's nothing major. Heal quickly Luca.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Forza_Roma

Thank goodness only 10 days and it's nothing major. Heal quickly Luca.

He'll miss the match with Werder

[Forza_Roma]

It's ok...Bayern can field a strong lineup without him. As long as he's ready for the season, all that matters. When does the season start?

[Oliver_Kahn]

^I'm afraid not, we only have 1 striker fit..

[Forza_Roma]

Well, I guess Santa Crus may have to play...Klose is fit, no?

[Oliver_Kahn]

Klose is fit, but Santa Clown is on vacation, so he won't play.

We only have 2 young strikers fit, besides Klose.

Schlaudraff, Podolski and Toni are out

[Forza_Roma]

It's been a few days since Toni was out due to injury...any updates on his status? Initial report was 10 days...he should be somewhat close to recovery by now, no?

[Oliver_Kahn]

3 days before he gets back.. which means he'll miss the match with Stuttgart.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Toni back soon

Luca Toni meanwhile is only a short time away from returning to the practice ground. The Italian World Cup winner reported for a thorough medical on Tuesday. If the procedure results in the all-clear, the striker will be sent jogging on Wednesday. Head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will be forced to wait a little longer on the return to full fitness of Lukas Podolski, Willy Sagnol (both rehab after knee surgery) and summer signing Jan Schlaudraff (rehab after surgery to repair a slipped disc.)

[Trim]

I wouldn't tell him to rush..
Of course, we all want him back fit as soon as possible, but he mustn't rush and worsen the injury.
I'm confident he'll play against Hansa Rostock, at last.

[Trim]

Luca Toni startet mit dem Lauftraining

Neuzugang Luca Toni ist zurück auf dem Trainingsplatz. Knapp zwei Wochen nach seiner im Testspiel in Albstadt erlittenen Verletzung hat der Italiener wieder das Lauftraining aufgenommen. Am Samstagnachmittag absolvierte er gemeinsam mit dem Fitness-Experten Riccardo Proietti eine intensive Einheit an der Säbener Straße. Am kommenden Mittwoch soll Toni noch mal genauer untersucht werden. Falls er danach grünes Licht von der medizinischen Abteilung erhält, hofft Ottmar Hitzfeld für Donnerstag oder Freitag auf eine Rückkehr des Torjägers ins Mannschaftstraining.

Toni has returned to training after 2 weeks out from injury.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Finally, it was reported to be 10 days, but it ended up being more than 2 weeks..

I'm eagarly anticipating the Bayern-Barça match, I'm sure Klose and Toni will play together up front, should be awsome.

[Forza_Roma]

Thank God he's back. Hope he doesn't over extend himself in training upon returning. Injuries always manage to haunt you immediately after your return. Hope he doesn't have any other problems this season.

[Trim]

Yeah, he returned to individual training only.
He'll join his team-mates in training on Wednesday.

No need to rush. Things could get worse.