Gelsenkirchen - FC Schalke 04 will be without striker until the New Year after the 30-year-old striker decided to undergo surgery on a troublesome knee complaint.

'Necessary step'

The former Real Madrid and AC Milan marksman initially suffered partial tearing of ligaments in his right knee in a 4-0 defeat to VfL Wolfsburg on Matchday 2. He returned to team training this week but was unable to continue and has now opted for an operation to cure the problem.

The Netherlands international tweeted the following, announcing that he will in all likelihood not play for Schalke again in 2013, calling his decision to go under the knife a "necessary step":

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