Mame Biram Diouf out with thigh strain

Hannover striker Mame Biram Diouf is facing another spell on the sidelines with a partial thigh tear, but the problem is not thought to be as bad as first feared.

Diouf returned after a month out with an ankle injury against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, but left the field less than 20 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The Senegalese forward had a scan on a thigh injury yesterday which revealed partial tears to muscle fibres, but no muscular damage.

Hannover expect the former Manchester United marksman to be out for around three weeks, making him a huge doubt for Senegal's World Cup qualifier with the Ivory Coast later this month.

The 25-year-old is a key figure for Hannover, scoring twice in five appearances so far this season.