Eintracht Frankfurt forward Sonny Kittel's season is over after he tore cruciate ligaments in his left knee during Saturday's 1-0 loss at Werder Bremen.
Kittel, 22, had to be replaced after only 20 minutes of the defeat, which ended Frankfurt's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
He faces six months on the sidelines and will therefore not return until just prior to the winter break of next season.
INJURY BLOW Bad bad news: Sonny Kittel suffered a cruciate ligament rupture v Bremen. Get well soon, Sonny! #SGE pic.twitter.com/g4gazALzp2
- Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) May 3, 2015
"We're all deeply shocked by the diagnosis," said Frankfurt coach Thomas Schaaf.
"We're all incredibly sorry that Sonny, after all of the setbacks he's had in his still young career, has once again picked up a serious knee injury."
Kittel tore knee ligaments in April 2011 before two separate knee injuries kept him out for six and seven months respectively in 2013 and 2014.
