Hamburg - Bundesliga leaders TSG Hoffenheim could be without Vedad Ibisevic for several months as the league top scorer has likely partly ruptured the cruciate knee ligament.

Ibisevic was due to return to Germany on Thursday for thorough medical examinations from a training camp in Spain where he sustained the injury the previous day during a tune-up match with SV Hamburg.

"The first examinations indicate that the front right cruciate ligament is partly torn," Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick told reporters on Wednesday night.

Ibisevic, 24, scored 18 goals in 17 games as promoted Hoffenheim took the Bundesliga by storm in the first half of the season. The league resumes in late January after seven weeks of hibernation and his absence would be a huge blow for the team. (dpa)