Philipp Lahm in action for Bayern Munich. The captain broke his right ankle, yesterday.

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm will have surgery after breaking his right ankle in training yesterday and will be out for up to three months.

The Bayern captain, who retired from international football after Germany’s World Cup win in July, was injured in the morning session and had to be stretchered off.

“Lahm broke his right ankle and will need to undergo surgery soon,” Bayern said in a statement.

“The 31-year-old will be out for two-and-a-half to three months.”

He has been a key player for Pep Guardiola’s team this season, successfully switching between his new midfield role and the right back position he played for years.

This is the first serious injury for the player since 2006 when he suffered an elbow problem.

The Bavarians are already without injured midfielders Thiago Al-cantara and Javi Martinez as well as David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and forward Claudio Pizarro.

Keepers Pepe Reina and Tom Starke are also sidelined.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who returned to team training days ago, has also not played for months.

Bayern, however, are leading the Bundesliga standings and secured the fastest UEFA Champions League group qualification by any German team with two games to spare.

They take on Hoffenheim in the league on Saturday aiming to protect their four-point lead at the top before travelling to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League in a week’s time.