Frings injury not serious

It had been feared that the Germany international, 30, would be out for most of the season with a torn ligament but further tests have shown that he does not need to undergo surgery and should recover with a period of rest.

"It's not torn, so Frings will not be out for six months, as we had feared," Bremen general manager Manfred Mueller told Sport Bild online.

Frings had only just signed a new contract at Bremen after fears he would leave on a free this summer but suffered the injury in a pre-season friendly against Paderborn.