It's no secret that getting playing time is important to the development of any professional footballer – especially if your aspiration is to become the first-choice goalkeeper for your country . For most national team coaches, only a keeper who is playing regularly for his club merits consideration.
Unsurprisingly, Germany coach Jürgen Klopp is no exception. While he did give Urbig – the backup keeper at Bayern – two starts in his first international break as national team boss, for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Serbia and the Netherlands, Marc-André ter Stegen remains the undisputed No. 1.
But when Klopp gave ter Stegen the nod, Urbig was still spending most of his time on the bench in Munich. But this is set to change after Bayern's recent Bundesliga win over Mainz. The 40-year-old Manuel Neuer asked to be subbed off just before halftime, complaining of severe pain in his right foot.
An examination revealed that Neuer has sustained a partial tendon tear in the foot.
"An injury never comes at the right time, but it's part of the game," Neuer wrote on Instagram.
"I've been through this before, and I'll get through this one too. From now on: full focus on recovery. Until then, I will support the boys on the pitch wherever I can."
