Werder Bremen captain Torsten Frings has been granted a break from training as he bids to shake off a nagging injury.

The 32-year-old, not selected by Germany manager Joachim Low for international duty, is still feeling the effects of a knock to his foot suffered in training last week.

Coach Thomas Schaaf told kicker: "The injury hasn't become significantly better, so now he's having a break.

"There's nothing wrong and we currently have the time to spare him, so we're doing that."

Bremen, fourth in the Bundesliga, host Hoffenheim a week on Saturday.