Germany's Hoewedes ruled out of Confed Cup

Germany defender Benedikt Hoewedes will miss June's Confederations Cup in Russia to undergo surgery on a long-standing groin injury, his club Schalke 04 confirmed on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Schalke captain, who was part of Germany's World Cup-winning side in 2014, has delayed an operation to see out the rest of the season with the Royal Blues.

"The doctors and the player had hoped to get the injury under control using conservative treatments," a Schalke spokesman told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

"But now there is a status update. Everyone must realise that Hoewedes can not avoid having an operation. It has been planned for the summer."

Hoewedes is the first Germany regular to be ruled out of the Confederations Cup, which runs from June 17 until July 2, but others are set to follow.

Germany head coach Joachim Loew said he will use the tournament to blood new players, with the world champions facing Australia, Chile and Cameroon in Group B.

Loew has also hinted some of Germany's first-choice stars, who play for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Schalke, will be rested for the competition.

All three clubs face a congested fixture list with the trio still involved in European competition.