Bayern Munich are hoping to have a fully-fit Arjen Robben available following the winter break. The 26-year-old Holland winger, the 2010 German Player of the Year, has not played since the FIFA World Cup final against Spain due to a ruptured hamstring.

He has, however, been in light training for the past month but is due to step up his comeback this week by joining in in team sessions before playing an even bigger part on Bayern's winter training camp in Qatar from 2-9 January.

And the Bundesliga champions are hoping Robben can make his eagerly-awaited comeback when they resume league action at Wolfsburg on 15 January.

"Arjen is about to start training with the team," said Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger. "It looks very likely that he will be able to join in three or four times with the team before Christmas."

Bayern have missed Robben's brilliance over the opening months of the season. Louis van Gaal's side are currently sixth, 17 points behind runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund.