Germany's Lahm out for 14 days with elbow injury

CAGLIARI, Italy, May 17 (Reuters) Germany defender Philipp Lahm will not return to full training for two weeks because of his elbow injury but the World Cup hosts are confident he will be fit for the June 9-July 9 tournament.

The 22-year-old Lahm, who is coach Juergen Klinsmann's first choice at left back, tore tendons in his left elbow after falling awkwardly in a practice match back in Germany yesterday.

While his team mates enjoyed the start of a five-day training camp on the Italian island of Sardinia today, Lahm was undergoing surgery in Munich.

That operation was a success, the German Football Association said, and he is scheduled to leave hospital tomorrow.

He will miss the five-day stay in Cagliari but should be fit enough to fly out to Geneva for the second leg of the German squad's preparations from May 21 to 30.

''He will be able to resume running in three days and full training in 14 days,'' Germany's assistant coach Joachim Loew told reporters in Italy today.

''We assume he will be at the World Cup. There are no plans at the moment to call up a replacement.'' Lahm's injury spoiled what was an otherwise enjoyable 7-0 victory over amateur club Luckenwalde yesterday, a 60-minute exhibition match that was supposed to see the team off to Italy in good spirits.

Centre back Christoph Metzelder and midfielder Sebastian Kehl also have injury problems but should be at or near full fitness by the time the Germans reach Geneva.

''They are both well on the way,'' said Loewe, who added that captain Michael Ballack was suffering with light 'flu.

Germany have friendly internationals lined up against Luxembourg on May 27, Japan on May 30 and Colombia on June 2.

They get the World Cup underway with a Group A match against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

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