Germany forward Timo Werner is the latest high-profile name announced to be missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after picking up an injury on Wednesday night.
RB Leipzig’s final Champions League group stage game ended in victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, but the former Chelsea attacker played only a few minutes before departing with an ankle injury.
Initially, it was hoped that the knock was not too serious, but subsequent scans have revealed a torn syndesmosis ligament, the club have confirmed.
As such, Werner will be out of action until the end of the calendar year, meaning an end to both his participation in the Bundesliga and his hopes of playing a starring role with the national team.
Leipzig are yet to decide on the course of treatment, but he will not return this year regardless.
He joins the likes of Paulo Dybala, Diogo Jota and Paul Pogba who are all confirmed to be missing the tournament – while a whole host of other players face a race against time to prove their fitness.
