Klose likely to return for Bayern against Bochum

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The international break came at just the right time for Bayern Munich, who should have Miroslav Klose fit for their trip to face Bochum on Saturday.

Klose, who has scored eight Bundesliga goals since joining from Werder Bremen, suffered a knee injury against Bayer Leverkusen at the end of September and has not played since.

He returned to training this week and the club are optimistic about his chances of being back to lead the line at the weekend.

'He managed the programme pretty well,' assistant coach Michael Henke told the Bayern website.

In fact, Bayern have made light of his absence in recent games and stand five points clear of second-placed Karlsruhe at the top of the table, with 23 points from nine matches.

Klose's return simply means they will not have to rely so heavily on the Italian Luca Toni, who with eight goals already has made just as bright a start to his Bayern career.

With their two leading strikers back in tandem, Bayern will be overwhelming favourites to extend their unbeaten start to the season against Bochum, who are in 14th place with nine points.

There will be far more pressure on VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04, the champions and runners-up from last season.

Stuttgart's miserable start to the defence of their title continued last time out with a 2-0 defeat at home to Hanover 96 and they are all the way down in 12th place with 10 points.

They face a tough away game on Saturday against Hamburg SV, who are in much better shape in fourth place with 17 points.

Hamburg will be without Nigel de Jong, after the Dutchman suffered a muscle strain in midweek.

Their only other real concern will be whether the incessant transfer rumours about Rafael van der Vaart, supposedly wanted by various Spanish clubs, will prove too much of a distraction.

Schalke are better off than Stuttgart, with 16 points in fifth place, but they will still be smarting from a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Karlsruhe in their last league game.

The good news for coach Mirko Slomka is that Halil Altintop, Mladen Krstajic and Peter Lovenkrands are all recovering well from injuries and should return for Saturday's trip to face Hansa Rostock.

The 10th round of matches begins with a Friday night game between Energie Cottbus and Duisburg.

Second-placed Karlsruhe, who have surprised everyone with such a strong start to the season, are at home to Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.

Source: ESPN