Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss friendly matches against England and Italy after partly tearing ligaments in his right knee.

The robust Manchester United midfielder, who damaged the same knee only a few months ago, has had an injury-plagued first season at the English club, raising concerns about his fitness for the European Championship in France in June.

A medical examination yesterday revealed that Schweinsteiger had partially torn knee ligaments.

“This was the result of the medical check today in Munich at the clinic of national team doctor Dr Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt,” the German soccer federation said in a statement.

Germany, World Cup winners in 2014, take on England in Berlin on Saturday and Italy in Munich three days later.

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