MUNICH (Germany) — Veteran Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set for a spell on the sidelines with a foot injury, compounding the German champions’ absentee woes.
Neuer came off just before half-time with an injury to his right foot in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Mainz.
In a statement issued Sunday, Bayern said Neuer would be “out for the time being” with a torn tendon in his foot.
Bayern did not indicate how long Neuer would miss, but German media reported he would be out for at least two months.
“An injury never comes at the right time, but it’s part of the game,” Neuer wrote on social media.
“I’ve been through this before, and I’ll get through this one too. From now on: full focus on recovery. Until then, I will support the boys on the pitch wherever I can,” he added according to AFP.
Playing his 550th Bundesliga match, Neuer became the oldest player in a league match in Bayern’s history when he took the pitch aged 40 years and 225 days.
The German champions are already without coach Vincent Kompany who is recovering from an illness, while Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz, Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry are also long-term absentees.
Despite Neuer’s absence, Bayern are well served in the goalkeeper department, with number two Jonas Urbig one of three goalies called up to Jurgen Klopp’s Germany squad on Thursday.
Neuer, a two-time Champions League winner, has already missed five matches this season with injury and has indicated this would likely be his last campaign.
