Bayern striker Olić out for six months

FC Bayern München's injury problems have worsened with the news that striker Ivica Olić could miss the rest of the campaign.

The 31-year-old Croatian international needs knee surgery to repair the cartilage and meniscus damage that has troubled him all season. He will be operated on in the United States this week and then faces a six-month rehabilitation period.

The knee injury had already caused Olić to sit out the start of Bayern's Bundesliga campaign, although he has managed to fit in six league and two UEFA Champions League appearances between treatment for that problem and for the broken nose he sustained in October.

Of this latest setback, the forward said: "Of course I am disappointed. I had hoped I would be able to continue where I have left off last year. I had wanted to do so much."

Olić, who will be in the hands of renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman, was a key man in Bayern's domestic double win and run to the UEFA Champions League final last term. However, the former PFC CSKA Moskva and Hamburger SV striker had failed to score in his limited outings so far this season.

Bayern, yet to drop a point in UEFA Champions League Group E and able to reach the last 16 with victory at CFR 1907 Cluj on Wednesday, are also without Arjen Robben (thigh), Miroslav Klose (thigh), Franck Ribéry (ankle) and Mark van Bommel (knee). Defender Holger Badstuber is a doubt with an infection but goalkeeper Jörg Butt should be available despite back problems.