Borussia Dortmund's German international midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who underwent a back operation that saw him miss the World Cup, should make his return in three months, the Bundesliga club announced Thursday.

Gundogan "was successfully operated on at the start of the week in Munich to ease a pain in the spine", Dortmund said in a statement, adding that doctors envisaged a three-month rehabilitation schedule.

That means the 23-year-old will likely miss the start of the Bundesliga on August 22 and also the September 16 kick-off of the Champions League, for which Dortmund qualified as runners-up of the German league.

Gundogan has not played for Germany since his injury, sustained in the national team's 3-3 draw with Paraguay in August 2013. In that time he has played just three games for Dormtund: the German Supercup, a first round match of the German Cup and the first Bundesliga match of last season.

afp