Germany and Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer will be sidelined until January after undergoing surgery on a foot injury.
The goalkeeper, who is among the nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2017 award, has fractured the same bone that kept him out of action at the tail end of last season.
Bayern announced the news yesterday in a statement on the club website. It read: “Manuel Neuer (31) sustained a repeat hairline fracture of the metatarsal in his left foot in training on Monday.
“Following a final diagnosis on Monday lunchtime, the Bayern captain underwent surgery early on Tuesday morning to repair the damage. The op, performed by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Stockle in Tubingen, involved setting the fracture with a plate.”
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “Manuel Neuer has sustained another injury and we’re incredibly sorry for him. The operation went perfectly, which is the most important thing for now. We and our captain are now looking to the future. Manuel will be back to his previous best and available to us again in January.”
Germany is on the verge of booking a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia but face a tough trip to closest challengers Northern Ireland next month. Neuer, meanwhile, will discover this Friday whether he is among the final nominees for The Best as the final trios for the various awards are unveiled in London.
