Deisler facing lengthy lay-off

FC Bayern München confirmed today that Sebastian Deisler will be sidelined for at least six months with the injury which forced him out of Germany's FIFA World Cup squad.

Operation in Colorado
Bayern, who acquired Deisler from Hertha BSC Berlin at the end of the season, confirmed on their website that the midfield player had undergone an operation in Colorado by specialist Richard Steadman after injuring his troublesome right knee in a friendly international against Austria.

Clutching his knee
"In order to achieve the complete regeneration of the knee, Dr Steadman has recommended he does not play for six months," said Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, the Bayern team doctor. The 22-year-old Deisler was left clutching his knee following a tackle with Austrian striker Rolf Landerl in the 18th minute of a match Germany won 6-2.

Blood clots
Deisler was carried from the pitch on a stretcher and appeared to be in great pain, covering his face, but a scan on Sunday found he had not torn any ligaments. A medical examination in Munich on Monday, though, revealed blood clots which required treatment. After suffering the 15th injury of his young career, Deisler then announced he would not go to Korea/Japan. Deisler, who agreed a €9.5m transfer from Hertha to Bayern last October, injured his right knee in a 1. Bundesliga game against Hamburger SV in the same month and underwent surgery in Vail.

Recent appearances
He returned for Hertha in April, but was soon back on the physio's couch with a thigh strain. However, he appeared to have made a successful return at the start of May and featured in Germany's three recent warm-ups against Kuwait, Wales and Austria. Deisler's loss was a bitter blow to Germany coach Rudi Völler, who had already been deprived of three important players for the World Cup in experienced central defenders Christian Wörns and Jens Nowotny and playmaker Mehmet Scholl, who like Deisler was a potential midfield match winner.

Saudi Arabia first
Germany are drawn with Cameroon, Republic of Ireland and Saudi Arabia in Group E of the finals and tackle the Gulf nation on 1 June in their opening game in Sapporo. "This is a big setback for us," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "But more important than us right now is the health of Sebastian."

Catalogue of injuries
In his four-year professional career, Deisler has picked up a catalogue of injuries, mostly muscle and tendon tears in his legs or knees, but has also had problems with his hips and required an operation for a circulatory disorder. He played a modest 56 times for Hertha in the past three years and would undoubtedly have added to his 19 international caps and three goals for Germany but for his troubles.