Created on 16-03-2009 at 00:00 AM
Bayern will be without seasoned striker Miroslav Klose throughout a crucial phase in their Bundesliga and Champions League campaigns. The centre-forward, who turned an ankle as the pitch cut up early on in Bayern’s 3-0 win away to VfL Bochum on Saturday, underwent surgery in Switzerland late on Monday afternoon and will be sidelined for approximately six weeks.
The enforced lay-off means the club’s leading scorer will miss not only a string of Bundesliga fixtures, but also Bayern’s quarter-final tie in the Champions League. Klose is currently joint top of the scoring charts in Europe’s elite club competition alongside Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard. The draw for the next rounds will be made by UEFA on Friday.
Not in plaster
Klose sustained the injury when his ankle gave way on a divot in the bumpy Bochum turf after half an hour of Saturday’s league encounter. In the operation on Monday, surgeons repaired two partially ruptured ankle tendons. The procedure is reported to have gone smoothly. Klose will spend a night in hospital before returning to Munich in the course of Tuesday.
The player will not be put in plaster and should be able to commence a light rehabilitation programme in the next few days. If his recovery goes according to plan, reported Jürgen Klinsmann, the 30-year-old “may be able to resume the squad programme in six weeks or so,” thus returning to first-team action in time for the run-in.
Germany boss concerned
Klose is also out of Germany’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein (29 March) and Wales (1 April). “The injury to Miroslav Klose is obviously regrettable, but we hope he regains fitness as quickly as possible, and returns to the action for Bayern at least for the closing stages of the season,“ commented Germany boss Joachim Löw.