The injury bug seems to have yet again bitten Bayern Munich at an incredibly inopportune time of the season as the hunt for the treble is still alive. Bayern have a difficult deficit to overcome in leg 2 of the Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid, and losing Jerome Boateng in leg 1 to a thigh injury was a major blow. Both Arjen Robben and Javi Martinez also sustained injuries during that match while Thomas Muller and James Rodriguez picked up slight knocks as well.

(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Heynckes confident Boateng will be fit for the World Cup

Despite the major set back for Boateng, Jupp Heynckes believes that the center back will be fully fit in time to play for Germany at this summer’s World Cup. In his press conference prior to this weekend’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Heynckes affirmed that he’s confident Boateng will be definitely be playing for Die Mannschaft this summer (via Bundesliga.com):

I see absolutely no danger for the World Cup. Jerome will of course — as I and our doctor, Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt, understand it — be at the World Cup, and will be able to train before it too.

Germany’s first match of the group stages is on June 17th against Mexcio, but Joachim Löw will have to have his preliminary 23-man roster by May 14th, and a roster finalized by June 4th, giving Boateng just about a month and a half to get back to fitness.

Still no return date for Manuel Neuer

In the many twists and turns of Manuel Neuer’s road to recovery, it now appears that the keeper is still unsure of a return date, as he’s also in a race against time to be fully fit for the World Cup. He just returned to full team training last week, but admits that he still has to approach his return with delicate caution:

After an injury like the one I had, everything is a motivation - a Bundesliga game, the DFB Cup final, the Champions League. I’d obviously like to help the team again, but I have to wait to see how the next steps go. It’s also important what the doctors says: at what point can I be involved again. On top of that, I have to be happy with my performance level and be honest with myself: can I be my old self so soon after such a long period out. Or do I need to say: I’m still a way off and need more time? I don’t have the answers today, there are a lot of question marks.

With only two Bundesliga matches left, Neuer’s window of opportunity to get some minutes under his belt before the World Cup is quickly diminishing, and Sven Ulreich has been in excellent form as of late. Still, though, Neuer’s hopeful that his return is right around the corner.