Borussia Dortmund defender, Kevin Grosskreutz will be sidelined for six weeks with a muscle injury, the club have announced.
The Germany international, 26, “suffered a torn thigh muscle” in the 60th minute of Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat by Augsburg.
Manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed the news at his pre-game press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with SC Freiburg.
This comes as a further blow to coach Jurgen Klopp, whose side sit bottom of the table having collected just 16 points from 19 matches.
Grosskreutz will miss both legs of the Uefa Champions League round of 16 tie between the Westfalians and Juventus.
The club added in a statement: “The club’s medical department is expecting Grosskreutz to be out for about six weeks, with the Champions League second leg against Juventus on 18 March a possible return target date.”
Poland international full-back Lukasz Piszczek faces a late fitness test for the match against Freiburg and could stand in for the injured Grosskreutz.
