Wolfsburg have been dealt a blow with the news that Patrick Helmes

Wolfsburg have been dealt a blow with the news that Patrick Helmes has torn cruciate ligaments in his right knee for the second time in his career and faces half a year on the sidelines.


Helmes, 28, sustained the injury during Wolfsburg's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in a friendly match on Saturday and underwent a scan the following day.

The results confirmed the worst fears that the striker, who was just cementing his place in the side after recovering from an identical injury in 2009, has again torn knee ligaments.

"Patrick was heading in the right direction and this is a bitter blow for him and for the whole team," Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said on the club's website.

"We will now all support Patrick so that he can get back onto the field as quickly as possible."

Helmes, contracted to Bayer Leverkusen at the time, first tore knee ligaments while playing with friends after the 2008-09 season had ended.