Norwich City centre-back Christoph Zimmermann is set to miss the start of the season, after undergoing knee surgery last week.
The 26-year-old defender, who skippered the Canaries for most of their Championship title-winning adventure last season, faces four to six weeks on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery in London last week to repair a medial meniscus tear in his left knee.
Daniel Farke's City squad returned to Colney on July 1 for pre-season testing, before commencing training two days later. The Canaries confirmed Zimmermann suffered the injury during the off-season.
The news comes less than 24 hours after Norwich City revealed Zimmermann's new four-year deal, making him the latest of the club's successes from last season to extend their Canaries commitment.
City kick-off their Premier League return at Anfield against Liverpool on Friday, August 9 - little more than four weeks away. Norwich then host Newcastle and Chelsea, by which time the club will be hoping Zimmermann - a man with proven natural fitness - will be back and available; albeit he will now miss the entirety of pre-season.
Zimmermann's absence will leave Farke calling on Grant Hanley, Timm Klose and Ben Godfrey through pre-season, hoping they all emerge available for when the competitive action begins.
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