AMSTERDAM — Hoffenheim are crossing their fingers that right-sider Fabian Johnson will be able to recover speedily from a neck injury sustained in training on Tuesday that is expected to shelf him for four weeks.
The 23-year-old suffered a herniated disc in his neck without contact or an awkward fall, according to the club.
"We hope to have him back in [individual] training with the ball next week," Hoffenheim press officer Marcel Kamm told MLSsoccer.com. "The target [to have him back in full squad training] is two to three weeks."
Johnson spent some time in the most recent US national team, but is still awaiting paperwork clearance from FIFA to switch allegiance for the Red, White and Blue. The Munich native, whose father is a United States serviceman, played for Germany at three international youth levels and was a member of their UEFA Under-21 Championship winners in 2009.
Thus far on the young Bundesliga season, Johnson has two assists in five matches. Fifth-place Hoffenheim will start making do without him for a while when Wolfsburg come to town on Saturday.
