Germany captain Michael Ballack looks certain to miss next week's opening World Cup qualifiers with a foot injury.
"It looks at present that the captain will need a longer break from training," the German Football Federation (DFB) said Saturday.
Ballack has pulled out of Chelsea's derby match with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday because of metatarsal bone bruising.
The 31-year-old midfielder will join up with the Germany squad in Oberhaching on Tuesday, but is unlikely to play in the qualifying matches in Liechtenstein on Saturday and Finland four days later.
Instead he will be receiving intensive treatment from the German team doctors on the injury to his left foot.
Chelsea said they expected Ballack to be out for two weeks.
He suffered the injury in the Premier League opener against Portsmouth, but returned to play against Wigan last Sunday. Since then he has been unable to train.
"Despite an incomplete recovery Michael was determined to play against Wigan on August 24th. Unfortunately, since this game he has not been able to train. Full recovery will take approximately two weeks," Chelsea said on their website.
Ballack was sidelined for eight months in 2007 after a complicated left ankle injury which led to a row between Chelsea and German football authorities.
Sapa-dpa
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