Piszczek adds to Hertha's problems

Hertha BSC Berlin's aspirations of reviving their early-season fortunes have been dealt a blow after midfielder Łukasz Piszczek joined a growing list of injured players.

Knee problem
The Polish international will be absent for three weeks after pulling ligaments in his left knee during training. That is likely to rule the 24-year-old, scorer of Hertha's sole UEFA Europa League Group D goal, out of SC Heerenveen's visit to Berlin on 22 October. New Hertha coach Friedhelm Funkel will be grateful, however, that an ankle knock suffered by Maximilian Nicu is considered only minor. Florian Kringe, Christopher Gäng, Cícero and Timo Ochs are already sidelined for the team languishing at the foot of the Bundesliga. Hertha drew their Group D opener at home to Latvian side FK Ventspils 1-1, before losing 1-0 at Sporting Clube de Portugal last week.