Germany captain and defender Philipp Lahm is out of Wednesday’s friendly international against France with a knee injury, national coach Joachim Loew has confirmed.

Lahm, 28, played in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win over Schalke 04 in the German league on Sunday, but contacted Loew after the match to report he had an infection in his right knee and must miss Wednesday’s international in Bremen.

After consulting with Germany team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, Lahm has been advised to stay in Munich and receive treatment.

“It was decided it would be better for Philipp to remain at home and be treated,” Loew confirmed on Monday.

In Lahm’s absence, Dortmund’s Marcel Schmelzer or Hamburg’s Denis Aogo will compete for the vacant left-back berth.

Loew must also do without midfielder Sven Bender who is injured after an accidental kick in the face playing for Dortmund against Hanover on Sunday.

“Sven sent us a photograph of his face using his mobile phone and with so much swelling and bruising, it is obvious he can’t play,” said Loew.

The national coach is already without four first-choice players as vice-captain midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski und Mario Goetze, plus defender Per Mertesacker are out injured.

With Lahm out, striker Miroslav Klose is set to captain Germany against the French, but Loew is waiting to see how the 33-year-old recovers from the slight back injury he picked up playing for Lazio in the Italian league.

Klose scored his 13th goal of the season on Sunday to give his team a 1-0 win over Fiorentina and with 63 goals for Germany, is only five short of the all-time record set by Gerd Mueller in the 1970s.