Holland striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar revealed on Friday he has decided to go under the knife to repair his damaged knee ligaments.
The Schalke 04 forward took to Twitter to share the news, a day after his club's sporting director Horst Held had said he probably wouldn't play again in 2013.
"It was tough but I've decided to undergo an operation," Huntelaar said on Twitter.
"The recovery period will be three or four months. It's tough but it's a necessary period."
The 30-year-old was the top scorer in the Bundesliga in 2011/12 following unsuccessful spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan.
Huntelaar injured his right knee in training on Monday on his return from a two-month absence due to having ruptured the ligaments in the same knee against VfL Wolfsburg in mid-August.
He has played only three games this season.
He also missed seven weeks last season due to an injury to his other knee.
Knee injuries have also deprived Schalke coach Jens Keller of midfielders Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jermaine Jones ahead of Saturday's trip to rock-bottom Eintracht Braunschwieg, while goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand is out with a back injury.
Source: AFP
