Toni could miss Bayern season opener

Aug 2, 2008 - 3:40 PM MUNICH, Germany (Ticker) -- Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni could miss the start of the season as he is struggling to recover from a calf injury.

The injury sidelined Toni during Bayern's trip to Japan last week, and general manager Uli Hoeness fears the Italian superstar will miss at least the rest of the preseason.

"I cannot imagine Luca being able to play in the (DFB-Pokal) against Erfurt," Hoeness told the Bild newspaper. "You cannot take muscular injuries lightly. I think the earliest he could possibly be back is for the opening game of the season against Hamburg."

Bayern's first competitive fixture of the 2008-09 season comes next Sunday in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, but they face a mouth-watering friendly against Italian champion Inter Milan on Tuesday, a game Toni will now miss.

Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann also likely will have to do without Willy Sagnol and Tim Borowski against Jose Mourinho's men.

However, Hoeness had better news regarding French midfielder Franck Ribery, who has been out since damaging knee ligaments during Euro 2008.

"Things are moving pretty quickly with Franck," Hoeness said. "He is not a heavyweight after all - more like a flea."