Podolski picks up ankle injury

FC Bayern München have suffered a setback with the loss of striker Lukas Podolski for at least three weeks with a right ankle injury.

Plaster needed
The 21-year-old German international was hurt in a training-ground collision with team-mate Mark van Bommel last Thursday. He continued to take part in the rest of the practice session but by the following day he was in serious discomfort. Subsequent medical tests confirmed the extent of the problem and Podolski will be in plaster for the next seven days.

Nearly there
Bayern will therefore be without Podolski for the visit of Sporting Clube de Portugal in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, but will hope to have him back in time for the Matchday 5 trip to FC Spartak Moskva. By which time the club could have already qualified for the knockout stages as they need just a point against Sporting to go through.

'Really sad'
Nevertheless, Bayern coach Felix Magath was disappointed to lose the services of his young forward after an impressive start to his first season in Munich, following his summer switch from 1. FC Köln. "It is really sad that Lukas will miss out on the many matches we have coming in the next weeks," he said. "He will get all the support he needs to come back as soon as possible."