STUTTGART, Germany - German champions Bayern Munich suffered a huge blow on Tuesday with German international defender Philipp Lahm ruled out for six months with a cruciate ligament injury.
Left-back Lahm, currently on loan at VfB Stuttgart, sustained the injury to his right knee in training and will miss the final game of the season against Bayern on Saturday.
The 21-year-old will join Bayern at the end of the season after a two-year loan spell at Stuttgart that has seen him become a regular in the German national team.
Lahm will miss the Confederations Cup in Germany, running from June 15 to June 29, and is not expected to return to training again until November.
It is the latest injury setback for Lahm who broke his right foot in January forcing him to miss a large chunk of Stuttgart's season.
05/17/2005 13:06 GMT