Leverkusen's Volland, Mehmedi out of action

Bayer Leverkusen have suffered a setback after losing Kevin Volland and Admir Mehmedi to injuries, the German top division football club has confirmed in an official statement.

German international Volland will be out of action for the rest of the year as an MRI scan revealed a "complex torn hamstring in the right thigh", which will keep him at the sidelines for eight weeks. The 24-year-old striker already began his rehabilitation on Thursday, reports Xinhua.

"At first it lets you down of course. But, it doesn't help. I won't hang my head, I will now focus on the rehab and do everything to get in shape again," Volland told the club's website on Thursday.

Volland joined Bayer Leverkusen from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2016 to provide one assist in nine competitive games. He scored overall 33 goals in 141 Bundesliga appearances.

Bayer Leverkusen will have to do it without Switzerland international Admir Mehmedi as well. The 25-year-old striker will be out of action two to three weeks as he sustained a torn muscle in the adductors area.

Mehmedi moved from Freiburg to Leverkusen on June 2015 to score three goals in 33 outings since his arrival.

The loss of both players is a setback for manager Roger Schmidt, who will have to rely on other players for the last five remaining games of the year. Leverkusen sit currently on the 10th place of the Bundesliga standings.

--IANS

ajb/vm