It appears that Bayern Munich will have to make do without João Palhinha for longer than expected with reports claiming that his injury is worse than initially feared.
Bayern suffered a big blow last week as João Palhinha was forced to drop out of the Portugal squad due to an adductor injury. After tests done by Bayern, it was revealed that the defensive midfielder has sustained a torn muscle fibre in his right adductor. And now Sky Sport are claiming that Palhinha could even be sidelined for the rest of the year.
The report adds that Bayern are now expecting the Portuguese international to return to action in January after the winter break.
Bayern Munich suffer João Palhinha injury blow
The injury to Palhinha certainly leaves Bayern Munich light in midfield ahead of what promises to be a tough run of matches. Aleksandar Pavlović is also sidelined with injury and is unlikely to return to action before the winter break.
Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer and Leon Goretzka are the only fit midfielders left in the Bayern Munich first-team, and they will certainly be tested in the coming weeks with games against the likes of PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen all coming up. Raphael Guerreiro is another player Vincent Kompany could potentially use in midfield.
The injury also comes at a poor time for Palhinha, as he was just starting to establish himself as a key player for Bayern Munich, and had become a regular starter in defensive midfield in Pavlović's absence.
Bayern Munich still have eight more games left to play in a 28-day period before the Bundesliga takes a winter break. They will next be in Bundesliga action against FC Augsburg at home on Friday.
READ MORE: How do Bayern Munich react to the absence of João Palhinha?