The 30-year-old will miss the German giant's League Cup opener against Werder Bremen in Dusseldorf this Saturday after picking up a knee injury at the weekend, but the minor setback concerns Hitzfeld.

Toni, who joined Bayern from Italian side Fiorentina for 11 million euros in the summer, was injured early in Sunday's friendly win over minnows FC Albstadt.

An MRI scan has revealed only a slight tear to a knee tendon, so Toni is spared a long lay-off and Hitzfeld hopes he will be fit for his side's DFB German Cup first round tie against Wacker Burghausen on August 6 and their opening Bundesliga clash with newly-promoted Hansa Rostock five days later.

"I hope he can train again as quickly as possible," said a worried Hitfeld.

"But whether it means he will be ready for the start of ths season is doubtful, because he has already had problems with a leg injury while at Fiorentina."

Even though Toni's injury is not as serious as first thought, "it's still a setback for us" insisted Hitzfeld.

With German internationals Lukas Podolski (knee) and Jan Schlaudraff (slipped disc) both recovering from surgery, as well as Roque Santa Cruz, on holiday after the Copa America, Bayern have summer signing Miroslav Klose as their only fit striker.

However, Bayern manager Uli Hoeness is looking forward to seeing Toni and Klose - which cost Bayern 23 million euros - pair up in attack - injury permitting.

"With Luca and Miro we have a dream attack," Hoeness told German agency SID.

"If the ball comes into the box, it will be dangerous for all our opponents."

"There won't be many teams who can contain us", added Klose, who insists he has come to Bayern to "score a lot of goals", but Munich's fans must wait to see the pair in competitive action for their new club.

Klose is likely to partner teenage striker Sandro Wagner against Bremen on Saturday after the 19-year-old was promoted from the Bayern second team