Julian Weigl will not join the German national team on their journey to Azerbaijan, the DFB has announced. The 21-year-old midfielder suffered painful bruising to his left thigh in Wednesday evening's 1-0 friendly victory over England at Signal Iduna Park, where he was replaced by Emre Can in the 66th minute.

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Julian Weigl was injured against England.

Weigl left the German team's headquarters in Kamen-Kaiserau this Friday morning. "It makes no sense for him to come with us. It's better for him to return to his club," commented national team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

"It's a simple injury but it is extremely painful," the Borussia Dortmund youngster said in the aftermath of the Nationalmannschaft's friendly in midweek. Now it can only be hoped that he recovers in time to prepare for the Bundesliga derby in Schalke in one week's time (1 April).

Both Nuri Sahin and Marc Bartra withdrew from international duty with their respective countries and are training in Dortmund. Their absences, combined with Weigl's premature return, take the number of Black and Yellows on international duty down to 14. (br)