MUNICH (the-AFC.com) -- Iran and Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi, who is recovering from a serious ankle injury, hopes to be completely fit by the beginning of the World Cup.

"If everything proceeds normally, I will be fit again by the time of the World Cup," said Karimi who started training with the Bayern squad since last Sunday.

According to media reports, the 27-year-old Iranian international is still hoping to get to play a few minutes in Bayern's remaining two Bundesliga matches at FC Kaiserslautern today and against Borussia Dortmund on May 13.

Meanwhile, injuries to other key players have compounded the problems of coach Branko Ivankovic, who will have to name the team for the World Cup on May 15.

Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi, Yahya Golmohammadi, Vahid Hashemian are all on the crocked list apart from Karimi.

Nikbakht aggravated his old knee injury and has been told to rest for four weeks while Golmohammadi and Hashemian, who struts his stuff in Bundesliga for Hannover 96, are also not fit.

Iran kick off their World Cup campaign against Mexico in Nuremberg on June 11. Also in their Group D are Portugal and Angola.