Klose out for six to eight weeks

MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Germany striker Miroslav Klose will be sidelined for "six to eight weeks" following an operation on his injured right ankle, his club Bayern Munich said on Monday.

After sustaining ligament damage at the weekend, Klose went under the knife in Switzerland. As he does not need to wear a plaster-cast, he can begin rehab immediately, said the German champions.

The German championship does not finish until May 23 but Klose will miss the lion's share of the race for the Bundesliga title, as well as Bayern's quarter-final clashes in the Champions League.

It means Bayern have lost another top player following injuries to Luca Toni (Achilles tendon) and French midfielder Franck Ribery (tibia). Lukas Podolski, who is soon set to rejoin FC Köln, is currently Bayern's only available striker.

Klose should also be sidelined for Germany National Footbal Team's World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein on March 28 and Wales on April 1.

That could prove problematic for Germany as Klose, with 44 goals in 88 matches, is Germany's top goalscorer still in activity.