Juventus defender Lichtsteiner may miss a month

Juventus

Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner, right, has signed a contract extension. (Martin Meissner/AP)

TURIN, Italy — Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner is out for up to a month after undergoing a heart procedure following breathing difficulties.

Lichtsteiner came off at halftime in the Serie A match against Frosinone on Sept. 23 because of breathing problems. Juventus said these were "due to a benign cardiac arrhythmia (atrial flutter) which later stopped of its own accord."

The club said the 31-year-old Lichtsteiner underwent tests which led to "a cardiac ablation operation" on Friday.

The Switzerland defender "is expected to return to competitive action within 30 days."

Lichtsteiner will miss Switzerland’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia, several Italian league games and a Champions League match against Borussia Moenchengladbach.

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