Augsburg confirm defender Banks sidelined with ligament injury

Manuel Baum will be without the talented central defender for an unknown period of time after his latest setback.

Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

FC Augsburg will be without Noah-Kai Banks for an extended period of time after the defender picked up an injury on Germany U-21 duty.

Banks suffered a lateral collateral ligament injury in his right knee during a 4-1 win in their European Championship qualifier with Malta. 

Although the game itself was played last Wednesday, the extend of the setback was confirmed by examinations in recent days. 

The 19-year-old center-back has already left the U-21 team's training camp and will complete his rehabilitation in Augsburg.

In a statement published on their club website, Augsburg stated they will therefore have to do without their defender for the time being.

Depending on the severity of the lateral collateral ligament injury, the recovery plan can be anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks.

On the positive side, there was no mention of the youngster requiring surgery, which would undoubtedly elongate the recovery process.