Mertesacker blow hits Werder hopes

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BERLIN, Germany -- Werder Bremen central defender Per Mertesacker will miss most of the season after suffering a knee injury in Sunday's 1-0 win over Nuremberg.

Werder said in a statement the German international would have an operation on Tuesday and would need between three and four weeks to recover.

Werder are in second place in the Bundesliga, two points behind Schalke, with six games to play.

They are also still in the UEFA Cup, with the second leg of their quarterfinal against AZ Alkmaar to come on Thursday.

"His loss is a grave one for us," Werder sporting director Klaus Allofs told reporters.

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