Magath in Helmes injury blow

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath has been forced to accept he will be without striker Patrick Helmes until next year.

Magath had intended to name the ex-Bayer Leverkusen striker his skipper for the new season after relieving out-of-form Christian Trasch of the captaincy. But the 28-year-old then suffered a cruciate ligament injury in Wolfsburg's pre-season friendly with Manchester City last Saturday and the former Germany international, who scored 12 goals in 16 games after being recalled by Magath last season, is now set for a six-month lay-off. "We have to accept he will be off for about half a year," Magath told Deutsche Presseagentur. "I keep in regular contact with him. He has undergone the surgery and will start rehabilitation training as soon as possible, he will need time to recover, it will take some time for him to come back."