Kompany Faces Weeks Out as Bayern Turn to Danks

Vincent Kompany is expected to be away from Bayern Munich for an extended period after collapsing on the training pitch on Friday and being admitted to hospital with a virus. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, sporting director Max Eberl said the club expects the head coach to be out for "weeks, not days" while his treatment continues.

Eberl confirmed that Kompany is still in hospital and is in a stable condition. Medical teams are continuing their examinations to establish the exact nature of his illness, and no timeframe for a return has been set.

Coaching responsibilities now fall to Aaron Danks, Kompany's English assistant, who will lead the side in Sunday's Bundesliga match at Freiburg. Danks takes charge at short notice, and the squad will prepare for the fixture without its head coach on the touchline.

Kompany, 40, spent his playing career at Manchester City and captained Belgium, and he has been in charge of Bayern, one of the biggest clubs in European football. A health scare of this kind is a serious matter for any club and its players, and Bayern's supporters will be hoping for a quick and full recovery. The club has not offered further detail on his condition, so updates will likely come from the club's official channels as the examinations progress.