Germany forward Timo Werner has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury, his club RB Leipzig said on Thursday, a week before the national squad was due to be announced.
The 26-year-old was taken off in the first half of Leipzig's 4-0 Champions League group-stage win against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday after a knock on the foot in the 13th minute.
The news is a blow to Germany head coach Hansi Flick as he prepares for his first major tournament in charge since replacing Joachim Low, with its opening game against Japan on 24 November.
"This piece of news is extremely bitter," said coach Flick. "I feel very bad for Timo personally because he will miss the World Cup which he desperately wanted to play in."
Since making his debut in 2017, Werner has scored 24 goals in 55 matches for his country.
He rejoined Leipzig in August after two seasons with Chelsea and has scored nine goals in 16 matches for the Bundesliga club, but will not be boarding the plane to Qatar.