Germany forward Timo Werner has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury, his club RB Leipzig said on Thursday, a week before the national squad was due to be announced.
The 26-year-old, who has 24 goals in 55 appearances for the national team, was taken off in the first half of Leipzig’s 4-0 Champions League group-stage win against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday after a knock on the foot in the 13th minute.
“This piece of news is extremely bitter,” Germany coach Hansi Flick said. “I feel very bad for Timo personally because he will miss the World Cup which he desperately wanted to play in.”
Werner moved back to Leipzig this season after leaving Chelsea in an effort to get more playing time to secure his spot on the World Cup squad.
“A very tough one to take for me! I will be out for the next few weeks, will miss the World Cup and will have to support RB Leipzig and Germany from the couch unfortunately,” Werner wrote on his social media account. “Thanks for all your messages!”
List of injured players
PAUL POGBA
The French World Cup winner was ruled out of the competition after suffering from a fresh thigh problem that will keep him on the sidelines for another three weeks. , Pogba has been battling a meniscus injury since pre-season. He is yet to feature for Juventus since re-joining the club on a free transfer this summer from Man United.
REECE JAMES (ENGLAND)
The 22-year-old right back injured his knee in Chelsea’s Champions League clash against AC Milan in October and looks certain to miss the tournament in Qatar after being ruled out for eight weeks.
DIOGO JOTA (PORTUGAL)
The Liverpool forward will miss the tournament due to a calf injury sustained in their win over Manchester City but the Premier League club’s manager Juergen Klopp said that he would not require surgery.
PEDRO NETO (PORTUGAL)
The 22-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers winger will undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained against West Ham United in October.
BOUBACAR KAMARA (FRANCE)
The Aston Villa midfielder suffered a knee ligament injury in September that will keep him out until after the World Cup.
ARTHUR MELO (BRAZIL)
Liverpool’s on-loan midfielder picked up a muscle injury in the build-up to a Champions League clash with Rangers in October.
SCOTT KENNEDY (CANADA)
The 25-year-old defender sustained a freak shoulder injury at the end of October while playing for SSV Jahn Regensburg in the German second division.
JESUS ‘TECATITO’ CORONA (MEXICO)
The Sevilla winger suffered a fracture on his left ankle while he was training with the LaLiga club in August and underwent surgery.
The 29-year-old was named in Mexico coach Gerardo Martino’s preliminary 31-man squad but Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli said he could return to training only by December.
BEN CHILWELL (ENGLAND)
Left back Ben Chilwell pulled up with a hamstring injury during added time in Chelsea’s Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. “It doesn’t look positive, but it’s a hamstring. We’ll have to scan it and see what it is,” said Blues manager Graham Potter.
SON HEUNG-MIN (SOUTH KOREA)
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min suffered a facial fracture following an aerial clash with Chancel Mbemba during a Champions League game at Olympique de Marseille. Spurs said the forward will have surgery to stabilise the fracture.
ROMELU LUKAKU (BELGIUM)
Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has injured his hamstring again after making a comeback after two months on the sidelines.
PAULO DYBALA (ARGENTINA)
AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho said the Argentina forward had suffered a “very bad’ injury when he tweaked a thigh muscle while converting a penalty against Lecce.
KYLE WALKER (ENGLAND)
The Manchester City defender had successful groin surgery in early October but the 32-year-old said he was confident he will fully recover in time to make the trip to Qatar.
KALVIN PHILLIPS (ENGLAND)
The Manchester City midfielder has been sidelined due to a shoulder problem but could return before the World Cup.
RONALD ARAUJO (URUGUAY)
The Barcelona centre back opted for thigh surgery in late September, saying he made the choice to go under the knife to return to 100% “as soon as possible”.
ANGEL DI MARIA (ARGENTINA)
The Juventus winger is out until early November due to a hamstring injury which the club said would need around three weeks to heal.