Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has suffered a crushing blow over the fitness of Jamal Musiala ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena.
The former Chelsea starlet picked up a severe muscle injury during the 3-1 Bundesliga win over Augsburg on Friday, and there is a chance that he could miss the remainder of the season.
Musiala joins fellow long-term absentees Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies (both knee) on the sidelines, while Kingsley Coman (unspecified) and Manuel Neuer (calf) are also out of the first leg.
While Serge Gnabry is fit and raring to go, Thomas Muller - now in his final weeks as a Bayern player - is a more natural fit to replace Musiala and ought to be trusted from the first whistle by Kompany.
The 35-year-old is primed to line up in a supporting cast with Michael Olise and Leroy Sane behind Harry Kane, who took a whack to his ankle against Augsburg but is expected to be fine for the clash with Inter.
Captain Joshua Kimmich is a midfield mainstay, but Kompany is facing a critical dilemma over whether to partner him with Joao Palhinha or Leon Goretzka; the fit-again former gets the nod for us.
Defensive absentees mean that Eric Dier, Kim Min-jae and Konrad Laimer's spots at the back are safe, but Kompany could swap left-backs and side with the more experienced Raphael Guerreiro over Josip Stanisic.
Number one Neuer has not been ruled out of the encounter just yet, but his chances are incredibly slim, so Jonas Urbig should act as the last line of defence.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Urbig; Laimer, Kim, Dier, Guerreiro; Palhinha, Kimmich; Olise, Muller, Sane; Kane
> Click here to see how Inter could line up for the first legYour text to link...
Ben Knapton
