Training update: Mats Hummels is back running; Arjen Robben making progress

Bayern Munich center back Mats Hummels pulled up lame late in the squad’s 4-1 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf, but might not be out too much longer. Diagnosed with a pulled muscle, it was never thought that Hummels had a serious injury, but it shows good progress that he has already started to run as detailed by Bild.

The central defender had a strain in his right hind thigh at the 4:1 in Düsseldorf in injury time. An MRT examination after the return showed the harmless diagnosis on Sunday night. The star spoke of “a few days break.” Three days later, the ex-national player jogged for the first time again twice ten minutes - with a five-minute walking break in between.

Hummels is considered “questionable” for Saturday’s game against Werder Bremen. The bigger issue will be on Hummels’ status for the DFB-Pokal semifinal. Niklas Süle will be unavailable due to his suspension for a red card that was sustained against Heidenheim in the quarterfinal duel between the two squads.

Hummels had some company for running drills as reserve goalkeeper Christian Früchtl joined him. Früchtl, of course, is nursing an injury to his elbow ligaments. Unlike Hummels, Früchtl is expected to be out quite a bit longer, which will make Ron-Torben Hoffmann the back-up to Sven Ulreich until Manuel Neuer is recovered from his calf injury.

Robben making progress

Bild also provided an update on Arjen Robben, who made through an hour-long session of running, sprinting, ball work, and shooting.

Arjen Robben (35) gets a big praise for his individual training from rehabilitation coach Thomas Wilhelmi (51). The super oldie sweated an hour in the spring sun for his comeback after a break of almost five months. Particularly important: the thigh muscles (problems since November 27) and the right calf (fiber rupture at the beginning of March) also held up during the full sprints.