Inter Milan has announced that their goalkeeper Yann Sommer has sustained a broken thumb on his right hand, just as the team is preparing for crucial fixtures in both Serie A and the Champions League.

Tests conducted on Thursday confirmed the injury, and the club stated that the appropriate course of therapy will be determined in the coming days.

Such thumb injuries can often keep goalkeepers out of action for several weeks; however, Inter has not provided a specific timeline for Sommer’s recovery. Since the start of the season, he has been instrumental for the team, playing in all Serie A and Champions League matches.

Currently, Inter Milan, the reigning Serie A champions, sits in second place in the league, just two points behind Napoli. They are set to travel to Naples for a pivotal match at the end of next week, with a home game against Genoa coming up this Saturday.

In addition to domestic league concerns, Sommer’s injury raises questions about his availability for the Champions League knockout stage. Inter is expected to face either Feyenoord or PSV Eindhoven in the round-of-16, with match dates being March 4 or 5 and then March 10 or 11.

In the absence of Sommer, the team will look to his backups, Raffaele Di Gennaro and Josep Martinez, to step up during this critical stretch of the season.