Bayer Leverkusen are likely to be without Roberto Hilbert until 2014 after the defender suffered a cruciate knee ligament tear earlier this week.
Hilbert sustained the injury following a collision in training on Wednesday afternoon, with scans quickly revealing ligament damage in his left knee.
The 29-year-old has initially been ruled out for at least the next few weeks in a prognosis revealed on Leverkusen's official website last night, but is not thought to need corrective surgery.
Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia must now cope without a defender who has featured in seven matches so far this season, after returning to the Bundesliga last summer following three seasons with Turkish side Besitkas.
