Borussia Monchengladbach's Granit Xhaka is set for a spell on the sidelines after the club confirmed that the midfielder suffered a ligament tear in his right ankle during the final minutes of Sunday's 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich.
Switzerland international Xhaka, 22, has been in excellent form for Gladbach in recent weeks as he helped his team keep in touch with Bundesliga leaders Bayern.
The Foals have not suffered a defeat in all 15 competitive games this season, and currently rank second, four points behind Pep Guardiola's XI.
But in the final minutes of Sunday's draw with Bayern, Xhaka went to the ground after a seemingly harmless battle for the ball with Robert Lewandowski, and the club announced the player's injury on Monday.
Granit Xhaka fällt mit einem Bänder- und Kapselriss für die nächsten Spiele leider aus. Gute Besserung! #fohlenelf pic.twitter.com/FXVRUpyIXp
- Borussia (@borussia) October 27, 2014
"I knew straight away that something is damaged. Despite the loud stadium I could hear a bang," Xhaka told Bild. "I will miss about four weeks of action. I think that I will only be able to fully attack [a return] before after the international break in November."
Gladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer told Rheinische Post: "That's a real shame for us and for him. Granit was in an excellent shape and we played really well together. But there's nothing you can do about him being sidelined now. We've got enough good men behind him, and need to make up for his loss now."
On Wednesday, Gladbach travel to Frankfurt, where they take on league rivals Eintracht Frankfurt. This weekend the Foals host Hoffenheim -- who have also not suffered a defeat this season in the league -- and the week after they face crisis-hit Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion.
Bayern captain Philipp Lahm believes that Lucien Favre's side could become the "second force" in Germany, being quoted by kicker as saying: "Gladbach have an excellent squad, a good mix. It will not be easy to push them from the top."
Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl has tasked his side to live up to that billing, saying: "Philipp Lahm is an expert. So let's try and confirm his statement."