Vissel striker Lukas Podolski expected to miss six weeks with left-foot injury

KOBE - Vissel Kobe striker Lukas Podolski will be out for roughly six weeks after injuring his left foot during training in June, the team announced on Thursday.

The former Germany international was aiming to return from a left-calf injury diagnosed in May, but the chip fracture sustained on June 28 will likely force him to miss several matches after the J. League resumes on Wednesday.

He suffered the injury during a training camp in Wakayama Prefecture, and has returned to Germany to receive treatment.

The 33-year-old, who joined Vissel last year, was named captain of the side this season but has only appeared in 11 matches so far, scoring three goals.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

LATEST SOCCER STORIES

Frontale, Tokyo battle to draw

After winning two straight J. League first division championships, Kawasaki Frontale was favored by many to become just the second team in the league's 26-year history to pull down a third. ...

FIFA bans Chelsea from signing players for a year over violations

Just hours after Chelsea win in the Europa league earned its under-fire ex-banker coach Maurizio Sarri some breathing space, the club owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was handed anothe...

FIFA bans Chelsea from signing players in two transfer windows

Chelsea was banned by FIFA on Friday from signing players until the 2020 offseason transfer window for breaching rules covering youngsters. The Premier League club has the right to appeal agains...