BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen's striker Joel Pohjanpalo will be out of action for a long period, the Bundesliga club said.
The Finland international sustained a blood flow disorder in his right anklebone, which forces him to a long recovery break, reports Xinhua news agency.
"The bone must first be completely immobilized to avoid a possible fracture. Pohjanpalo is therefore depended on crutches in the next six weeks before he starts with the rehabilitation," Leverkusen said in a statement on Tuesday.
The striker joined the "Werkself" in the summer of 2016 to score seven goals in his overall 16 appearances.
According to the club's statement, Pohjanpalo will be sidelined for "several months".
Bayer Leverkusen finished the Bundesliga season 2017-2018 in the fifth place of the standings. With the result, they booked their berth in UEFA Europa League for next season.