<
>

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez out injured for Leverkusen vs. Darmstadt

Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez will miss this weekend's Bundesliga match at Darmstadt.

Hernandez, 27, limped off the pitch close to the hour mark of Tuesday's 3-1 DFB-Pokal defeat to Werder Bremen, and has been ruled out with "a minor torn muscle fibre in his left gluteal muscle," Bayer Leverkusen announced on Wednesday.

Prior to his injury, the Mexico international converted from the penalty spot to make it 1-0 for the hosts at the Bay-Arena -- his 22nd goal in 26th appearances since joining from Manchester United in August.

However, Leverkusen, reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time, were unable to answer to Bremen's goals scored by Santiago Garcia, Claudio Pizarro and Florian Grillitisch.

Leverkusen travel to Darmstadt sitting fifth in the Bundesliga table, one point outside the Champions League places.