BERLIN - Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti says Kingsley Coman's ankle injury is not as serious as first suspected and hopes to have the French winger back by the middle of September.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti says Kingsley Coman is in a group of Bayern Munich stars who he hopes to have back for the middle of September
Coman was stretchered out of Bayern's training session on Wednesday, clutching his left ankle after a collision with Javi Martinez, and has damaged ankle ligaments.
He will miss the start of the German Bundesliga season when Bayern host Werder Bremen on Friday August 26, plus France's friendly against Italy in Bari on September 1 and their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Belarus on September 6.
But Ancelotti says Coman is in a group of Bayern stars who he hopes to have back for the middle of September.
The Bundesliga resumes on September 9, after the international break, with the first round of Champions League games on September 13.
"It's not a big injury, we hope to get him back soon," said Ancelotti, who has replaced Pep Guardiola as Bayern's head coach.
"We want to use the international break to get a few players back.
"Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa and Renato Sanches are all close to returning, but we want to make sure they are ready for the Bundesliga and Champions League.
"Kingsley is in a similar situation and we hope he will be ready after the international break."
Holders Bayern play fourth-tier minnows Carl Zeiss Jena in the first round of the German Cup on Friday.