Hannover will have to do without new signing Felipe for their UEFA Europa League qualifying matches with St. Patrick's Athletic after he picked up a thigh strain in training.

The Brazilian, who arrived this summer from Standard Liege, has been ruled out for at least a fortnight after tearing muscle fibres in a friendly match against Wisla Krakow on Saturday.

Hannover travel to Ireland for the first leg of the third qualifying round tie on Thursday before hosting St. Patrick's at the Niedersachsenstadion a week later.

Mirko Slomka's side finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season and, in addition to Felipe, they have strengthened their squad this summer with Hiroki Sakai and Szabolcs Huszti.