One question-mark and two rated doubtful

The workout schedule at the Bayern performance centre has taken an unusual form for the moment, as the players have been split into separate groups. “The others report here at different times,” Philipp Lahm advised on Thursday.

“The others” referred to by the Germany defender are the stars currently laid low with an illness, as contact between the healthy and the unwell is being minimised at the Säbener Strasse for the time being. “There’s a virus doing the rounds,” explained Louis van Gaal.

Jörg Butt and Andreas Görlitz were struck by the persistent bout of gastro-enteritis last week, while Ivica Olic, Danijel Pranjic and Daniel van Buyten all missed Wednesday’s cup meeting with Fürth with the same condition. “We’re expecting more players to fall ill in the coming weeks,” lamented Van Gaal, “and that’s bad, because we have two matches a week, and they’re all important.”

Van Buyten, Butt and Schweinsteiger fit again

However, with two days remaining before the Bundesliga clash at home to Borussia Dortmund, the medical unit was able to provide the head coach with mainly positive tidings. Van Buyten resumed the team training programme, along with Butt (calf) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (strain). The keeper and the midfielder also sat out the victory over Fürth.

Olic is also hoping to feature against Dortmund. The Croatia hitman went jogging on Thursday, and is expected to take part in the final pre-match training session on Friday. The remaining doubts concern Pranjic and Miroslav Klose (ankle) – provided the virus claims no further victims. “You just have to hope you don’t get it,” Lahm reflected.