Borussia Dortmund's Germany defender Mats Hummels is set to miss the next four weeks with torn ankle ligaments and looks to be sidelined for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan.
The 24-year-old centre-back picked up the injury for the German champions in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at neighbours Shalke 04 in the Ruhr derby, having missed the previous three games with flu, and the ankle injury was confirmed on Sunday.
He looks set to miss Germany's qualifier for Brazil 2014 against Kazakhstan in Astana on March 22 and the return in Nuremberg on March 26 with the Germans top of Group C.
With Dortmund due to discover their Champions League quarter-final opponents in Friday's draw, Hummels faces a race against time to be fit with the last eight matches due to take place from April 2.
Source: AFP
