German striker Helmes doubtful for Euro qualifiers

Germany striker Patrick Helmes is expected to miss the next three weeks with a calf injury and is doubtful for next month’s opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Belgium and Azerbaijan.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes confirmed Friday that the forward suffered the injury during his team’s 3-0 Europa League victory midweek over Tavriya Simferopol of the Ukraine.

It is a bad start to the season for Helmes who was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a cruciate ligament injury which saw him miss the first half of last season.

The 26-year-old was withdrawn midway through the second half of the Europa League play-off first leg after tearing muscle fibres.

He will miss next week’s return trip to Ukraine and is also a major doubt for Germany’s opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Belgium in Brussels and Azerbaijan in Cologne at the beginning of September.

“The season has not even started properly and we have three injured players,” said Heynckes.

“It is especially annoying with Patrick, because he had a great pre-season and was looking really good. The timing is most unfortunate.”