Hoffenheim hit by Ibisevic injury blow

Surprise Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim will look to sign a replacement for top scorer Vedad Ibisevic if the injured striker is forced to miss most or all of the rest of the season.

"If Vedad is not at our disposal for the second round of the season then we would need to become active on the transfer market," coach Ralf Rangnick was quoted by German sports news service SID as saying.

Ibisevic was injured in a training match against Hamburg on Wednesday night and was due to return to Germany for further medical tests, the club said.

In a statement on their website (www.tsg-hoffenheim.de), the club said Ibisevic, who has scored 18 goals this season, has ruptured a cruciate ligament during close-season training in Spain.

The injury is a major blow to Hoffenhein with the Bundesliga resuming in just over two weeks.

Ibisevic had to come off after being injured in the final minutes of Hoffenheim's 2-0 defeat by Hamburg, the club said.

Hoffenheim, in their first Bundesliga season, have taken the league by storm topping the standings at the halfway mark with Bayern Munich second on goal difference.

Ibisevic, 24, largely unknown at the start of the season having joined Hoffenheim when they were in the second division, had been outstanding so far netting 18 goals in 17 league matches to help turn the newcomers into title contenders.