Arjen Robben will miss Bayern Munich’s pre-season tour of China with a muscular problem.

The prolific Dutch winger was absent for much of the 2014-15 campaign with injuries and will be hoping to post a successful club season ahead of the Netherlands’ possible participation in Euro 2016.

Continue for updates.

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Robben Ruled out of China Trip

Thursday, July 16

Bayern’s official Twitter account confirmed Robben is one of five first-team players who will miss the club’s initial preparations for the Bundesliga season, while Sky Sport News HD‘s feed revealed the reason behind his absence.

Goal’s Stefan Coerts reports Robben will remain at home as a “precautionary measure” and that his muscular injury can be considered “minor.”

As such, Robben will not participate in matches against Valencia, Inter Milan and Guangzhou Evergrande during the whistle-stop journey through China.

He made just 20 Bundesliga starts last season, recorded by WhoScored.com. Robben’s season ended in April as a result of a calf injury, having previously been sidelined in March with an abdominal tear.

Despite this, he racked up 17 goals and seven assists along Bayern’s route to the German title, per WhoScored. Robben remains an explosive player and someone who can turn the game on its head with a moment of skill.

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has plenty of options to choose from while he recovers, even considering Franck Ribery’s spell on the sidelines. Guardiola will likely utilise the likes of Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze and new signing Douglas Costa on the flanks in China.

Robben’s main objective must be to get himself fit for the 2015-16 campaign. He is destined to play a key role in any potential Bayern success if he can maintain the sharpness that regularly sees him rip through opposition defences.

Unfortunately for the Dutchman, this is proving an increasingly difficult challenge as he heads toward the latter stages of his career.

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