BERLIN: Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be out of action until January after sustaining a foot injury for the second time in six months, the Bavarians said on Tuesday.

Bayern said in a statement that the 31-year-old had suffered a “repeat hairline fracture of the metatarsal in his left foot” during a training session on Monday.

He underwent surgery early on Tuesday which involved setting the fracture with a plate, the club added. Neuer suffered a similar injury to the same foot in April.

“We’re incredibly sorry for him,” said Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “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.”

Bayern, Bundesliga champions for the past five seasons, have taken nine points from their first four games and face Schalke 04 away later on Tuesday.

Neuer’s latest injury blow sparks concerns about Germany’s skipper nine months before the World Cup kicks off.

He last played for his country in a World Cup qualifier in October 2016.

Neuer will miss Germany’s key qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast on October 5, where a draw will book the holders’ place at Russia 2018.

With Neuer out, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who deputised when Germany won the Confederations Cup in July, is set to fill in for the world champions.

Sven Ulreich will stand in for Neuer at Bayern until the winter break at the end of December.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2017