MUNICH, Germany -- Germany international striker Lukas Podolski is set to be sidelined for six months with a knee injury, dealing a big blow to his club side Bayern Munich's hopes of securing a Champions League spot next season.
The 21-year-old needs an operation to repair his injured left knee and will miss his side's final four Bundesliga matches as the German champions try to avoid missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 11 years.
"Lukas has damaged the cartilage in his left knee and will have an operation on Thursday and will be out for the next six months," a statement on Bayern's Web site said on Thursday.
His absence will also be a serious setback for Germany in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and he will miss matches against San Marino and Slovakia in June.
Germany's coach Joachim Loew was disappointed by the news and will be looking for a new striking partner alongside Schalke 04's Kevin Kuranyi.
"Lukas told me on Wednesday night," said Loew.
"This is a great shame for him personally, of course, but also for the national team, because we will miss Lukas for the European qualifiers.
"I wish him a quick recovery and hope that he is fit at the beginning of the new season again."
Podolski made a big impact at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany being voted best young player of the competition.
He has scored 22 goals in 38 internationals, but he has underachieved at Bayern since joining at the start of the season from Cologone -- scoring just four goals in 22 games.
Bayern are fourth in the Bundesliga and five points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.
The 21-year-old needs an operation to repair his injured left knee and will miss his side's final four Bundesliga matches as the German champions try to avoid missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 11 years.
"Lukas has damaged the cartilage in his left knee and will have an operation on Thursday and will be out for the next six months," a statement on Bayern's Web site said on Thursday.
His absence will also be a serious setback for Germany in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and he will miss matches against San Marino and Slovakia in June.
Germany's coach Joachim Loew was disappointed by the news and will be looking for a new striking partner alongside Schalke 04's Kevin Kuranyi.
"Lukas told me on Wednesday night," said Loew.
"This is a great shame for him personally, of course, but also for the national team, because we will miss Lukas for the European qualifiers.
"I wish him a quick recovery and hope that he is fit at the beginning of the new season again."
Podolski made a big impact at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany being voted best young player of the competition.
He has scored 22 goals in 38 internationals, but he has underachieved at Bayern since joining at the start of the season from Cologone -- scoring just four goals in 22 games.
Bayern are fourth in the Bundesliga and five points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.
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