German keeper Adler out of Belgium match

AFP - 14 August 2008 20:15

German goalkeeper Rene Adler, seen here in June 2008. will not play against Belgium on August 20 at Nuremberg because of a shoulder injury, his club Bayer Leverkusen said on Thursday.

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany's keeper Rene Adler will not play against Belgium on August 20 at Nuremberg because of a shoulder injury, his club Bayer Leverkusen said on Thursday.

The 23-year-old keeper was hurt during training and suffered bruising, the club added. Adler will also miss the first day of the new Bundesliga season on Saturday when Bayer Leverkusen face Dortmund.

It presents a problem for Germany coach Joachim Loew who last week lost the services of veteran keeper Jens Lehmann who retired from international football at the age of 39.

To replace Lehmann, Loew pencilled in Adler or Robert Enke who plays for Hanover. He made it clear however that selection of one or the other did not mean the player named would always be in goal for Germany.

Andres Kopke, the goalkeeping coach of the Nationalmannschaft, said he was considering who to choose as a replacement for Adler.