Hamburger SV captain Rafael van der Vaart suffered an ankle injury in the Netherlands' 0-0 draw with Colombia in Amsterdam
Hamburger SV captain Rafael van der Vaart suffered an ankle injury in the Netherlands' 0-0 draw with Colombia in Amsterdam

van der Vaart tears ankle ligaments

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Hamburg - Hamburger SV star faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines after a medical scan revealed the Dutch international to have torn right ankle ligaments.

'Definitely' out at the weekend

The 30-year-old was hurt in a heavy tackle during the Netherlands' 0-0 draw with Colombia on Tuesday, and while the Red Shorts have yet to confirm the exact length of the ensuing lay-off, it is thought the HSV captain could miss the next four weeks of the campaign.

"I definitely don't think he'll be able to play at the weekend," said former FC Bayern München supremo and current Netherlands' head coach Louis van Gaal, before Hamburg’s Dr. Philip Catála-Lehnen revealed the full extent of the injury on Wednesday afternoon.

Van der Vaart has played in every Hamburg match so far this season, scoring six goals and providing as many assists.