Podolski problem perplexes Köln
Friday, January 13, 2006
Article summary
Germany and 1. FC Köln striker Lukas Podolski is struggling to be fit for the resumption of the Bundesliga due to problems in both his knees.
Article body
Painful problem
The injury means the 20-year-old cannot travel to Köln's training camp in Portugal this weekend and has been unable to train with his team-mates in recent days. Instead Podolski has been restricted to training on his own, but had to cut short a session on Thursday because of pain in his knees. It is thought he is suffering from a bacterial infection in the joints, so new Köln coach Hanspeter Latour has opted to leave him at home to allow him to rest. It is not yet known when the gifted forward will be ready to play again.
Plans disrupted
The Podolski setback is particularly frustrating for third-from-bottom Köln given this week's signing of Switzerland striker Marco Streller on loan from VfB Stuttgart. Latour had wanted to use the camp in Portugal to allow Streller and Podolski to develop a partnership. The injury will also concern Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann six months before the FIFA World Cup finals.