Borussia Dortmund defender Patrick Owomoyela has been ruled out for the rest of the season after injuring his hip in training, and is expected to be out for up to four months.
The 31-year-old, who won the last of his 11 caps for Germany against USA in 2006, has only made six league appearances for the Bundesliga leaders, having returned earlier this month after surgery on his Achilles tendons.
Despite barely playing this season, Dortmund recently extended his contract until 2012.
His team are at bottom-side Borussia Monchengladbach today and can lift the league title with victory if second-placed Bayer Leverkusen lose or draw at home to Hoffenheim.
The league season finishes on 14 May.