Hamburg midfielder Ze Roberto will be out until the new year after it emerged today he is to have an operation on his troublesome ankle.

The Brazilian has been out for over a fortnight after damaging ankle ligaments in the 2-2 draw against Hannover earlier this month. The 35-year-old underwent tests in Munich yesterday conducted by renowned doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, which revealed the ankle had not recovered fully.

It is certain that Ze Roberto will be missing for around four weeks, which means that the player will only be available for selection again in the second half of the season.
A Hamburg club statement on Ze Roberto

Ze Roberto said yesterday that he hoped to return before the end of the year, but those hopes now appear to have been dashed. Doctors, along with Ze Roberto, have decided to go ahead with an operation, which will be performed in Zurich, Hamburg announced in a statement on their official website.

The statement read: "It is certain that Ze Roberto will be missing for around four weeks, which means that the player will only be available for selection again in the second half of the season."

Hamburg's last fixture before the winter break is at home to Werder Bremen on 20 December.