Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe faces six weeks out due to surgery.
The News of the World says Defoe aggravated a calf injury while on England duty this week and will have to go under the knife to sort it out.
Defoe, who has been heavily tipped for a January move to Spurs, felt the problem in club games leading up to England's visit to Germany - but thought he could shake it off or play through it.
And instead of crying off international duty - like so many of Fabio Capello's frontline stars - he travelled to Berlin, where he was replaced at half-time by Darren Bent.