Gómez to sit out Stuttgart farewell

VfB Stuttgart striker Mario Gómez will be out of action for the rest of 2007 with a persistent chest infection.

'A bitter blow'
The 22-year-old, named as Germany's Player of the Year, will miss Saturday's Bundesliga game against VfL Wolfsburg, next week's UEFA Champions League tie against FC Barcelona and the final league game of the year at DSC Arminia Bielefeld. "This is a bitter blow, of course, but we have to get on with it," said the German champions' general manager Horst Heldt. Brazilian forward Cacau may also miss the Wolfsburg game with a thigh problem but Serda Tasci is available again after recovering from a bout of tonsillitis. The Barcelona game will be Stuttgart's last in Europe this season as they are certain to finish bottom of Group E.