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VfB Stuttgart have been dealt a severe blow in their quest to qualify for Europe this season with the news that in-form striker Mario Gomez will be out for two weeks with a thigh muscle injury.

The 22 year old striker suffered the injury on Sunday during Stuttgart’s Bundesliga draw away to Hannover. The club have intimated that the international forward, who has been in a rich vein of form recently, will be out for the next two weeks.

“An injury is always annoying, and in the first instant I was deeply disappointed” Gomes admitted.

“Ultimately I can’t change things, but will do all I can to get back as quickly as possible” he told the club’s official website.

Gomez has hit 15 league goals for the Swabians in 20 games this season and has been particularly prolific since the winter break. He grabbed another two for Germany last week in their 4-0 friendly win over Switzerland.

He will miss the crucial clash at home to Hamburg on Saturday, and then also the away trip to face Bayer Leverkusen, both of which could have a huge bearing on where Stuttgart finish at the end of the season.

Stuttgart manager Horst Heldt although disappointed, believes the club will cope without their talismanic striker.

“Of course it is disappointing particularly as Mario was in such top form. We are convinced though that the team will manage his absence. We did it last year when Mario wasn’t available” he said.

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