Bayern travel to Newcastle without Kahn

World Cup star Oliver Kahn is unable to fly to with Bayern Munich to Newcastle on Tuesday because of an ear infection.

The goalkeeper’s infection was first noticed when he flew to Bayern’s training camp in Leipzig in July.

He was given hospital treatment upon landing and told not to fly again until it had healed.

Kahn felt the infection again last week and was told by doctors to remain in Germany to allow the ear to heal.

He should be available to play in Hannover on Saturday, but Bayern press officer Markus Horwick said he would have to get there “by car or by train“.

Bayern are in buoyant mood following last Friday’s impressive start to their Bundesliga campaign.

Following their 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, they are now ready to pit themselves against a possible Champions’ League opponent whose own pre-season campaign is now in full swing.

Bayern trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld takes almost a full squad to Newcastle but admits that it won’t be the same side that took to the field on Friday that will step out at St James’ Park.

Following Friday’s workout, he spoke of Tuesday’s game as “an opportunity for the players who weren’t selected or who sat on the bench to prepare themselves for Saturday’s game in Hannover“.

In particular Mehmet Scholl and Jens Jeremies will therefore be out to impress after both were surprisingly given a supporting role on Friday.

The game will also allow Hitzfeld to run the rule over some of his lesser known players with Zvjezdan Misimovic, Piotr Trochowski and last season’s discoveries Markus Feulner and Bastian Schweinsteiger all knocking on the first-team door.

With Willy Sagnol and Bixente Lizarazu given extra time off after the Confederations’ Cup, this fixture may be the ideal occasion to gauge their fitness as well as that of new signing Michael Demichelis.

Both sides could yet be drawn together in the group stage of the Champions’ League and it is certain both clubs will be taking a good look at each other with this in mind.