Toni and Altintop set to face Dortmund

There was positive news for Bayern ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to Borussia Dortmund as World Cup winner Luca Toni was declared fit for his first appearance of the new term, with Hamit Altintop also ready to return to Jürgen Klinsmann’s side. Martin Demichelis may also be in line for a comeback after injury.

“Luca’s coming with us,” Klinsmann announced, although last season’s leading scorer is not a guaranteed starter for the champions. In the case of Altintop, Klinsmann said he was “very positive.“ The Turkey international has overcome a reaction to surgery on a fractured metatarsal and resumed the full squad training programme this week.

Demichelis still doubtful

For his part, Demichelis has made exceptionally rapid progress in recovering from a calf injury sustained in the pre-season friendly with Inter Milan. “The doctors told him he could resume training with the team on Wednesday,” Klinsmann revealed. “He did so and threw himself into it.“

However, the Argentine is still a doubt for the matchday squad. The coaching staff will wait and see what happens in Thursday and Friday training, before Klinsmann liaises with the fitness team led by Oliver Schmidtlein over a final decision.

Toni keen for goals

Lukas Podolski, who returned with severe grazing above the ribs from Germany’s midweek meeting with Belgium, has been given the all-clear. “It’s not a problem,” reported Klinsmann, who will also be able to call on fit-again Toni Kroos in Dortmund. The only confirmed absentees are Olympics starlets Breno and José Sosa, and long-term injury victims Franck Ribéry and Willy Sagnol.

Luca Toni can hardly wait for his return to competitive action. “I’m feeling fit and hopeful of playing,” the 31-year-old said on Thursday, “I’m desperate to play, I want to feel the adrenaline flowing.“ Three months after firing a hat-trick in the final match of the season against Hertha BSC Berlin, the striker is keenly looking forward to resuming the goal trail. “I’m determined to score on Saturday,“ he declared.