Hanover, Germany  - Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke does not expect a quick return to the Hanover team as he recovers from a bacterial infection.

"At the moment I am a long way from returning to goal," Enke said Thursday.

"I can only go for light runs. I will start doing some individual training next week."

Earlier this week Germany coach Joachim Loew said he would not be selecting the 32-year-old keeper for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

Enke, who was diagnosed last Friday with a bacterial stomach infection, said he could fully understand Loew's decision.

The goalkeeper said that being laid low by the infection, for which there was initially no diagnosis, was "a blow" but that he aimed to be back playing again as soon as possible.

Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler will be in goal for Germany's key World Cup qualifiers, against Russia in Moscow on October 10 and Finland in Hamburg four days later. dpa