Bremen's Max Kruse sustains knee injury

Werder Bremen have been dealt a double blow ahead of their Bundesliga season opener with Bayern Munich on Friday.

Following a 2-1 defeat to third-tier Sportfreunde Lotte in the first round of the German Cup, the Green and Whites were left without their star forward, Max Kruse, who is set to miss eight weeks with a knee injury.

The 28-year-old forward, who joined from Wolfsburg in a deal worth 7.5 million euros ($8.5 million), tore knee ligaments in Sunday's German Cup defeat. Remarkably, Kruse played on for the full 90 minutes, despite sustaining the injury during the game.

He is to head to Munich-based consultant Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Eichorn for further examination, but is not expected to recover for almost two months. "Then we will know further details," head coach Skripnik told Werder's official website. "It's very bitter that we must go so long without such a key player. We hope that Max will be fit as soon as possible," he added.

Strike partner Claudio Pizarro is also doubtful for the opener in Munich, as the Peruvian veteran is struggling with a muscle problem.