Germany forward Timo Werner has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury, a week before the national squad was due to be announced.
The 26-year-old, who has 24 goals in 55 appearances for the national team, was taken off in the first half of Leipzig's 4-0 Champions League group-stage win against Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday after a knock on the foot in the 13th minute.
Timo Werner while at Chelsea Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Werner moved back to Leipzig this season from Chelsea in an effort to get more playing time to secure his spot on the World Cup squad.
He has netted four times in the league so far and scored nine goals in all competitions.
His injury is a major blow to the Germans, who have struggled to be clinical in the box for some time.
With Werner now ruled out, coach Hansi Flick is almost certain to call up the Bundesliga's leading scorer Niclas Fuellkrug, who operates as a natural number nine, a powerful in-the-box striker.
Meanwhile Japan defender Yuta Nakayama will miss the tournament after being ruled out for the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury.
Nakayama, who has been capped 17 times, was named in Hajime Moriyasu's 26-man squad this week.
His club Huddersfield Town said Nakayama would require surgery after damaging his Achilles tendon in yesterday's 2-0 home defeat by Sunderland in the second tier Championship.
Following is a list of players who have been ruled out or are doubtful for the World Cup through injury.
PAUL POGBA (FRANCE)
Pogba injured his knee in pre-season and went under the knife in September to repair a damaged meniscus.
The 29-year-old resumed training but on Oct. 31 his agent said the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus nor the world champions before the World Cup.
N'GOLO KANTE (FRANCE)
The Chelsea midfielder suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury that has restricted him to two appearances this season. He will be sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery.
TIMO WERNER (GERMANY)
The RB Leipzig forward, 26, sustained an ankle injury during their 4-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of November and will be sidelined for the rest of 2022.
REECE JAMES (ENGLAND)
The 22-year-old right back injured his knee in Chelsea's Champions League clash against AC Milan in October and looks certain to miss the tournament in Qatar after being ruled out for eight weeks.
DIOGO JOTA (PORTUGAL)
The Liverpool forward will miss the tournament due to a calf injury sustained in their win over Manchester City but the Premier League club's manager Juergen Klopp said that he would not require surgery.
PEDRO NETO (PORTUGAL)
The 22-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers winger will undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained against West Ham United in October.
BOUBACAR KAMARA (FRANCE)
The Aston Villa midfielder suffered a knee ligament injury in September that will keep him out until after the World Cup.
ARTHUR MELO (BRAZIL)
Liverpool's on-loan midfielder picked up a muscle injury in the build-up to a Champions League clash with Rangers in October.
SCOTT KENNEDY (CANADA)
The 25-year-old defender sustained a freak shoulder injury at the end of October while playing for SSV Jahn Regensburg in the German second division.
JESUS 'TECATITO' CORONA (MEXICO)
The Sevilla winger suffered a fracture on his left ankle while he was training with the LaLiga club in August and underwent surgery.
The 29-year-old was named in Mexico coach Gerardo Martino's preliminary 31-man squad but Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli said he could return to training only by December.
The following players are injured but fighting to get fit and be considered for selection.
BEN CHILWELL (ENGLAND)
Left back Ben Chilwell pulled up with a hamstring injury during added time in Chelsea's Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. "It doesn't look positive, but it's a hamstring. We'll have to scan it and see what it is," said Blues manager Graham Potter.
SON HEUNG-MIN (SOUTH KOREA)
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min suffered a facial fracture following an aerial clash with Chancel Mbemba during a Champions League game at Olympique de Marseille. Spurs said the forward will have surgery to stabilise the fracture.
ROMELU LUKAKU (BELGIUM)
Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has injured his hamstring again after making a comeback after two months on the sidelines.
PAULO DYBALA (ARGENTINA)
AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho said the Argentina forward had suffered a "very bad' injury when he tweaked a thigh muscle while converting a penalty against Lecce.
KYLE WALKER (ENGLAND)
The Manchester City defender had successful groin surgery in early October but the 32-year-old said he was confident he will fully recover in time to make the trip to Qatar.
KALVIN PHILLIPS (ENGLAND)
The Manchester City midfielder has been sidelined due to a shoulder problem but could return before the World Cup.
RONALD ARAUJO (URUGUAY)
The Barcelona centre back opted for thigh surgery in late September, saying he made the choice to go under the knife to return to 100% "as soon as possible".
ANGEL DI MARIA (ARGENTINA)
The Juventus winger is out until early November due to a hamstring injury which the club said would need around three weeks to heal.
-Reuters