Gotze facing lay off

Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder Mario Gotze has been ruled out for up to two months due to a stress fracture of the pubic bone. The 19-year-old missed the Bundesliga restart last weekend due to the injury and further tests performed by the doctor of the Germany national team, Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, as well as Dortmund's club doctor Markus Braun have brought a more precise diagnosis. The Westphalian club reported on their website that he now faces a period of six to eight weeks on the sidelines. His return is likely to be no sooner than the away game in Augsburg in mid-March. Gotze, who made his Germany debut last year, has played 14 times for the Westphalians this season, scoring five goals. However, he has been plagued by injury since last summer and complained of a problem in his groin area ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga clash with Hamburg, which Jurgen Klopp's side won 5-1 without him. As a result of the injury-enforced break, Gotze will also miss Germany's international friendly against France next month.