Hamburg - Luca Toni has expressed anger at his continued absence from Bayern Munich's first team despite recovering from a troublesome Achilles tendon problem. The Italian international's earlier frustration at being forced to play for the reserves as he came back from the injury, when at one stage he insisted he would not continue to play at that level, has now been replaced by fury at his ongoing presence in the stands.
"A certain amount of time has passed since my injury and I feel really good again, just like my first year at Bayern," the 32-year- old striker said in an interview published in Wednesday's Bild newspaper.
"I suffer a lot when I have to sit in the stands."
Last month, Toni made clear that he would consider leaving the German giants if he failed to become a regular starter again as he needs to play to keep his chances intact of representing his country at the 2010 World Cup.
However, the 32-year-old has found it hard to make the starting lineup under new coach Louis van Gaal, given the likes of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Miroslav Klose, Ivica Olic, Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez in Munich's squad.
"I have been outside (the first team) for three or four months now. That never happened to me in my career, except at Brescia after a broken ankle," said Toni.
"All I want to do is get on the pitch and show people that I am still here. I think that the anger I am feeling about this unsatisfactory situation can help me."
Toni, who joined Munich in 2007 from Fiorentina and has scored 38 goals in 56 Bundesliga appearances for the German top club, refused to be drawn on whether there was an issue with Van Gaal, saying only that it was for the Dutchman to decide who played and who didn't.
"Every coach has his own style, how he trains and how he goes about dealing with players on a personal level. The club has decided on this trainer so he is the one to decide who gets to play and who doesn't," said Toni.
"I completely understand the coach. He has five strikers to choose from and thinks that, at the moment, I am the one least in form. From my side I want to play all the time and think that I'm ready."
Toni admitted that he was concerned about his World Cup place, not least because he is out of the Italian media glare in Germany, and that he would reconsider his position at Bayern again in January when the transfer window opens.
"I definitely see my World Cup participation as being in danger. I have to play better abroad than the other strikers in Italy in order to retain my place in the national team," he said.
"I don't know what will happen in January. Generally, I want to see out my contract until 2011, I want to play for Bayern.
"However, if I feel that people around me on a professional level no longer have confidence in me then I'll sit down at a table and try to find a solution."
AC Milan and Napoli have supposedly shown interest in acquiring the services of the attacker but all Toni can do now is hope that Van Gaal considers him for Bayern's next Bundesliga encounter against Freiburg.
"I want to help Bayern win the Bundesliga."
