Franck Ribéry faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the new season after the FC Bayern München midfielder was sent for surgery to resolve a groin problem.

Fresh from an early FIFA World Cup elimination with France, the 27-year-old will head straight to Munich after he flies back to Paris from South Africa, with his operation scheduled for Friday. Beaten UEFA Champions League finalists Bayern will compete in the group stage of the 2010/11 competition as German champions.