One big player was missing for Bayern Munich in the training at Sabner Strasse on Thursday, as Harry Kane was not spotted with his teammates on the grass. The English forward is nursing a minor injury that he suffered during the international break.
After Croatia capped off the exhibition and World Cup qualifying fixtures, Bayern Munich welcomed back every member for the preparation for the last stage of the season.
While Luis Diaz, Michael Olise, and most of the other core players came back unscathed, Bayern's top goalscorer, Harry Kane, suffered a knock that kept him out of the game against Japan. England head coach Thomas Tuchel had given Kane extra time off as he missed the first game and joined the camp before the clash against Japan.
Kane was able to work on the bicycle in the gym on Thursday. There is a significant chance he will miss the Saturday game against Freiburg. However, he is hopeful of returning against Real Madrid in a massive Champions League Quarterfinal tie.
Losing Kane in a tie-deciding game at the Bernabeu is something no one wants to see. Every Bayern fan still surely has a nightmare flashback to when Alphonso Davies returned to Munich last year with a devastating ACL injury or when leading striker Robert Lewandowski had to miss four weeks after playing for Poland in 2021.
These are two of many occasions that virtually derailed the whole season's momentum and showed Bayern the exit signs in the Champions League.
How can Kompany replace Kane in starting XI if he misses game against Real Madrid?
If Kane is out against Real Madrid, Vincent Kompany will have a serious headache to replace the Englishman's impact on the pitch. A whopping 48 goals and 5 assists this season speak volumes. His productivity and gravitational pull for defenders are something many doubt Nicolas Jackson can replicate in the same manner.
Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, recently came out and talked about Kane's impact on their playstyle. While talking to the Guardian, the former Bayern manager attributed the poor performances of England to the absence of Kane.
There is nothing we can do but get our hopes up for Harry Kane. Fortunately, there are still positives to take away from the last session as Jonas Urbig is back in team training, and so are Musiala, Pavlovic, and Davies. Kompany will hope that other players step up if Kane fails to get fit for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.