Neuer out until January after foot operation, says Bayern

"The fact that Manuel Neuer has suffered a new injury means we are all very sorry for him", said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"The operation went optimally and that is the most important thing now. Manuel will be available for us again, back at his old strength, in January."

This is Neuer's third operation on the same foot in six months after minor surgery for a toe injury in March and then again in April after initially fracturing his foot.

Neuer's latest injury blow sparks concerns about Germany's skipper nine months before the World Cup kicks off.

He last played for Germany in a World Cup qualifier in October 2016.

Neuer will miss Germany's key World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast on October 5, where a win will book the holders' place at Russia 2018. With Neuer out, Barcelona's goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who deputised when Germany won the Confederations Cup in July, is set to fill in for the world champions. Neuer's Bayern understudy Sven Ulreich will now take over for Munich until the winter break at the end of December.