Werder's Fritz out for the season

The Bundesliga club announced on Wednesday that Clemens Fritz would not be available for the rest of the season after he sustained a tear of the syndesmosis in his right ankle during Saturday's 2-0 win over Darmstadt.

"Clemens was in Munich until last night where he received treatment and was informed of the various possibilities for further treatment," Werder's sporting director, Frank Baumann, said in a statement. "On the advice of the doctors and in close consultation with our medical department, he decided to have the operation. We don't expect him to be available again this season."

Baumann said Clemens had been operated on earlier this Wednesday at a hospital in Tübingen.

The sporting director added that it remained an open question as to whether the captain would be back at Bremen next season.

"We have alwas stressed that Clemens could be an important pillar in the coming season as well," Baumann said. "We will speak with him at the appropriate time."

Fritz had announced his retirement from football in January 2016, but reversed that decision three months later, saying he didn't want to abandon the club in the state it was in at the time, saying he would play this season even it Werder were in the second division. The northern German club avoided the drop, finishing in 13th place, two points above 16th - the relegation-playoff spot.

CurrentlyWerder are in 14th in the standings- again just two points above the relegation playoff place.