Football
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Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez facing weeks out through injury

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez could be out for three weeks with the injury he suffered in Bayer Leverkusen's DFB-Pokal defeat to Werder Bremen this week.

Hernandez had scored the opening goal of the night, his 22nd goal in 26th appearances since joining from Manchester United in August, but limped off the pitch around the hour mark. Leverkusen went on to lose the tie 3-1.

Leverkusen coach Rogers Schmidt told reporters at his prematch news conference ahead of the weekend meeting with Darmstadt that the striker, who sustained "a minor torn muscle fibre in his left gluteal muscle," is set for a few weeks on the sidelines.

"We will most likely be without him for the next two weeks," Schmidt said, which means the Mexico international is likely to miss both legs of the Europa League tie against Sporting Lisbon.

"The injury is a bit unusual, and we can't really foresee when he'll be fit again. The healing process can take one, two or three weeks."

Without Chicharito, a key player for Leverkusen this season, Bayer are set to change their tactics.

"In Stefan Kiessling and Chicharito we have two real attackers in our squad. We need to play differently in attack at Darmstadt," he said.

"The key to success will again be courageous defending, and independently from Chicharito's absence we need be more dangerous in front of the goal as a team, also the midfielders."

Hernandez could be replaced by Julian Brandt, 19, who would earn a rare start.

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