Munich  - Franck Ribery is making progress in his recovery from a recurring knee injury and may return to action before the Bundesliga winter break, his Bayern Munich team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt said.

France star Ribery last played in early October and has been sidelined since. Munich said last week that he won't require an operation as conservative methods are being applied.

"We will treat him for a month and then we will see. We are on a good way," Mueller-Wohlfahrt said in interviews published on Monday in several German papers.

The doctor added that "you can never fully rule it (an operation) out, but the treatment is working. Therefore he doesn't need an operation." A French doctor said last week that Ribery will need four weeks of treatment and four weeks rehabilitation training.

Ribery will miss further Bundesliga matches and the French World Cup play-offs with Ireland in mid-November, but could be back just before the Bundesliga starts its winter break on December 20.(dpa)