Operation essential: ÖFB player Xaver Schlager threatens an early end to the season

National soccer player Xaver Schlager is facing another longer injury break. According to his club, the 25-year-old midfielder from Leipzig club suffered a symmetrical ligament injury in his right ankle in the first match in the Bundesliga at Borussia Dortmund (1-2) and the surgery will take place on Monday. The Leipzig residents gave no information on the exact length of the stoppage on Saturday, but the season must end prematurely for the Schlager.

With an injury, Schlager will certainly miss the first FIFA matches of the year in the qualifiers for the European Championships in Linz against Azerbaijan (March 24) and Estonia (March 27). Born in Linz, Lower Austria he is also a key player in the national team. Schlager had been in the starting line-up in all eight previous international matches under new team captain Ralf Rangnick. He also threatened the captain in the opening second half in Linz
David Alaba is out with a muscle injury.

For Schlager, one of Leipzig’s best and most consistent players in recent months, this is another health setback. The midfielder had already missed most of last season when he was still playing for VfL Wolfsburg with a cruciate ligament tear. Prior to that, the former Salzburger had already suffered a serious ankle injury at the start of his time in Germany in 2019.

After Timo Werner, Lukas Klostermann and compatriot Konrad Leimer, Schlager is the fourth Leipzig player to suffer an injury this season. While the trio was cracking up, the club did not provide any additional information about Schlager’s injury. The Austrian International Federation suffered in a duel with Dortmund striker Anthony Modest.