Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that right-back Thomas Meunier suffered a fractured cheekbone on Wednesday evening in their second-round DFB Pokal fixture against Hannover 96, which they won 2-0.
Meunier featured in the starting lineup of coach Edin Terzic but then had to leave the field after about an hour due to his injury. According to the club, he has since undergone surgery.
The 31-year-old hopes for World Cup participation with Belgium
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl left open exactly how long Meunier will be out but according to the club’s official statement, the club no longer expects the defensive player to return before the start of the FIFA World Cup break in mid-November.
Meunier himself speaking to Goal.com has spoken of being “full of hope to be able to participate with Belgium in the World Cup at the end of the year.”
So far this season, Meunier has been in the starting eleven in seven of the Black and Yellows’ ten Bundesliga games, however, the 56-time international has been rumoured to be ‘unsettled’ and has been subject to transfer interest from Barcelona and Manchester United in recent months.
GGFN | Ben McFadyean
