MUNICH - Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is making progress as he recovers from a long-standing right ankle injury.

Ribery had a cast removed from the ankle Thursday and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says "there is light at the end of the tunnel again. An examination has confirmed the inflammation has gone down."

Rummenigge adds "he'll start rehabilitation training in the next weeks and then hopefully be on the pitch again in the not too distant future."

Ribery suffered a setback last month when the ankle failed to respond to treatment and his right foot was immobilized.

The 32-year-old has not played since injuring his ankle in the Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk in March.