Bundesliga - Toni set for late test
Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni will undergo a late fitness test on Thursday to determine his fitness ahead of the weekend's game against Schalke.
The Italy international - who missed his country's Euro 2008 qualifier against France on Saturday - is suffering from a hamstring injury.
The 30-year-old will also miss the Azzurri's crunch match with Ukraine on Wednesday after having returned to Munich early where he is yet to start training.
The summer recruit will now have to prove his fitness at the last minute if he is to play a part in Bayern's clash with Schalke on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bayern boss Ottmar Hitzfeld denied claims the Bavarian club had played down Toni's injury.
"It was never a secret that Luca has an injury," Hitzfeld told the club's official website.
"We did everything we could to get him fit, but it wasn't enough."
* * *
Linke in dual role as player and official
Former first team stalwart and current Bayern reserve Thomas Linke is to break new ground by simultaneously filling the job of assistant to newly-appointed Red Bull Salzburg Director of Sport Heinz Hochhauser. The pair succeed former Munich star Oliver Kreuzer, abruptly dismissed on Wednesday after just short of a year in the job.
“It’s an exciting challenge for me,“ commented Linke after the move which prepares the ground for the end of his active playing career. Alongside his duties in Salzburg, the 37-year-old will continue to appear for the Bayern reserves in the third division south until the end of the current season. “That’s important to me personally,” he declared.
One day off per week
“I’ll only be present in Salzburg on occasional days,” Linke explained. “I can’t let it affect my sporting performance. We’ll organise it so that it works out for everyone.“ The move has the full support of reserve coach Hermann Gerland. “I don’t envisage any problems. Thomas is a model professional. He’ll be granted one day off per week,“ the seasoned boss observed, adding it was “important” to retain the experienced central defender’s services for the remainder of the campaign.
While Linke continues to support the reserves in their battle to qualify for the new national third division next term, the job in Salzburg will serve as an introduction to life after he hangs up his boots. “I have a lot to learn about the world of business,“ he remarked, “so I’m delighted I’ll be able to benefit from Heinz Hochhauser’s experience.“ Hochhauser retains his current duties as head of the Bulls’ youth section.
Aiming for Europe’s elite
The prospect of a return to Salzburg, where Linke plied his trade between 2005 and 2007 after seven seasons at Bayern, was in any case held out to the central defender after his decision to join Munich a few months ago. “We’re all just surprised it’s happened so fast,” he revealed.
The 37-year-old is keen to get started on his new duties. “There’s a huge amount of potential in Salzburg,“ he stated. This season’s goal is to retain the domestic league title, before another tilt at qualifying for the Champions League. “Salzburg want to play in the Champions League and I want to make a contribution to that,“ Linke explained, “I had a tremendous and successful time at that level as a player. I’m hoping I can continue that record.“
მიმაგრებული სურათი
· 
მიუნხენის ბაიერნი, დოიჩემაისტერის ფანკლუბი
