Ter Stegen's WC hopes look remote due to 'months' long lay-off

Germany goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has seen his chances of playing at the World Cup diminish after he acknowledged on Thursday that he would be out for "several months" following surgery, reported dpa.

Ter Stegen sustained a thigh injury at his new club Girona and will have an operation on Friday.

The recovery timeline makes it unlikely he could be considered for the World Cup in North America (June 11 to July 19).

The goalkeeper will definitely miss the first friendlies of the year in March against Switzerland and Ghana.

Manuel Neuer has retired from international football and ter Stegen was next in line to take over for Germany. But injuries at Barcelona meant he lost his first-team place and a January move to Girona has now been followed by a fresh fitness setback.

"As athletes, our greatest joy is competing: training and playing. I have to put all of that on pause for several months, as I’ve decided to undergo surgery. I will be back," the 33-year-old wrote on Instagram.

"I’m a positive person. I’ve always had this mindset and carried it with me through every challenge I’ve faced, but this one is especially tough for me."

He has made only two appearances for his new club, who are battling relegation in La Liga.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has backed ter Stegen to make another injury comeback, but the chances of Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann being in goal for their World Cup opener against Curaçao on June 14 have now increased markedly.