Kompany provides update on Kane's injury return
Bayern Munich top scorer Harry Kane has returned to training, but will not feature in this weekend's Bundesliga encounter against Mainz, coach Vincent Kompany has confirmed.
Kane has missed the past three games for Bayern in all competitions after picking up a thigh injury in its draw at Borussia Dortmund last month.
The England captain has 19 goal involvements – 13 goals, seven assists – in the Bundesliga this term, a total only bettered by Eintracht Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush with 20.
Bayern comes into the game on the back of a 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, moving it up to 10th on the UEFA Champions League standings.
Kompany said that all of his squad that featured at Veltins-Arena for that match will be available for this weekend's fixture.
"Harry Kane will not return against Mainz, nor will the other injured players. The guys who played against Shakhtar Donetsk are available," Kompany said.
Bayern is also without Joao Palhinha, Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry and keeper Manuel Neuer, among others, with the winter break approaching.
"Looking at the injury history of a squad is important. Our role is to minimise them," Kompany said.
"So far we have succeeded in doing that, but I'm not surprised that there is a moment when there are several injuries.
"Right now I'm very happy that we have a winter break because there won't be a summer break. It's important to have a certain number of days to recover, not only physically but also mentally."
Bayern starts the weekend six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, and will be confident of extending its lead at the summit after Kompany's fine start to the season.
He hasn’t lost any of his first 13 Bundesliga games as a coach, a feat only previously achieved by Pep Guardiola and Karl-Heinz Feldkamp.
Only Guardiola (35) has collected more points from his first 13 matches as a coach in the German top flight than the Belgian (33).
Bayern has already beaten this weekend's opponents 4-0 in a DFB-Pokal tie in October, but Mainz has won three of its past four Bundesliga matches.
Mainz has also won its past three Bundesliga home games against the side sitting top of the Bundesliga table, with all three victories coming against Bayern.
Across the division, only Borussia Monchengladbach is currently on a longer winning run at home against league leaders with four games.
"We have a lot of respect for the opponent and know that there are no easy games. We have to deliver, but we always have confidence in the squad," Kompany added.
