Manuel Neuer not progressing as expected, may miss Rückrunde start

Multiple outlets in Germany are reporting that Manuel Neuer’s broken left foot isn’t healing as quickly as Bayern anticipated, and that he may miss more time than they had originally hoped he would.

According to Kicker, Neuer’s original goal for a comeback, set for January 12th versus Bayer Leverkusen, is looking more and more unlikely. For one, it is normal for a re-break to heal more slowly; Sven Ulreich’s impressive form at the moment, moreover means there is no rush to get the 31-year-old shot stopper back between the posts. Neuer’s attendance of Bayern’s annual winter training camp in Qatar, set to begin on January 2nd, is growing doubtful.

To speed up the recovery process as much as possible, Neuer is currently undergoing autohemotherapy (Abendzeitung). This process involves removing blood from the body, running it through a centrifuge, and injecting the plasma into the infected area to promote healing.

It’s completely understandable that Bayern are taking their time with Neuer’s injury, as this is the third time he’s broken his foot in his career, the first being in 2008/09 while still at Schalke, and the second just last season in an unfortunate Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Should Bayern get past Dortmund in the round of 16 of the DFB Pokal in December, their first important and difficult stretch of 2018 will come at the beginning of February, as the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal are set to be played on February 6th and 7th, while the UCL knockout stages start the week after on February 13th and 14th.

There are no signs indicating that Neuer won’t be ready for those (potential) matches, though a lot can happen between now and February.

Fingers crossed.