Guardiola optimistic Ribery will return to full training

Photo credit: AFP.

Having been out injured for more than eight months, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery could return to training at the end of this month, coach Pep Guardiola revealed on Friday.

“He has taken a big step forward in recent weeks,” Guardiola said, adding that the Frenchman could be back on the training ground with the rest of his teammates “in a week or two.”

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Ribery has not played since March 11 due to an ankle injury and Guardiola did not say whether he thought the 32-year-old would return to action before the Bundesliga’s winter break.

The former France star said in an interview with magazine Kicker last week that the world of football would “soon see the old” Ribery.

“It would be great to join up with the squad again in two or three weeks, experience the atmosphere among the group, have a laugh with the youngsters, have fun, all the things I have missed,” said the former Marseille man.

Bayern, who are five points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga, go to Schalke on Saturday evening.