Schalke's Jermaine Jones is in danger of missing around six weeks as he prepares for surgery on his knee.
The USA international midfielder will have an operation to address his damaged meniscus and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month, which could end up being six weeks.
"It's true that the club has taken me from the squad," read a translated excerpt from BILD.
"I take this opportunity to let even my meniscus. Regardless of the club's decision an operation because of persistent pain would have been inevitable."
Jones will miss vital Bundesliga fixtures, Champions League group stage meetings against FC Basel and Chelsea (two) and World Cup qualifiers with the US against Jamaica and Panama next month.
