Real's Metzelder out for two months with foot injury

Real Madrid centre back Christoph Metzelder may need surgery to resolve the problems he has been having with the sole of his foot and could be out for two months, coach Bernd Schuster told a news conference on Friday.

"It's bad news. It's a hard injury to recover from and he might need surgery. He'll be out for between six and eight weeks," Schuster said.

"I hope to have him back for the end of the season. It's a shame to lose him now."

The 27-year-old German international, who joined Real in the close season from Borussia Dortmund, first suffered the injury at the start of December and has made only one appearance since.

He will miss both legs of Real's Champions League first knockout round tie against AS Roma.