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Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim will look to sign a replacement for top scorer Vedad Ibisevic if the injured striker is forced to miss most or all of the rest of the season.

"If Vedad is not at our disposal for the second round of the season then we would need to become active on the transfer market," coach Ralf Rangnick said.

Ibisevic, who has scored 18 goals this season, has torn his right anterior cruciate ligament in a training match against Hamburg.

In a statement on their website the surprise pace-setters said Ibisevic was checked by doctors in Germany and that he had torn his ligament and could now be sidelined for several months.

The injury is a major blow with the Bundesliga resuming in just over two weeks.

Ibisevic had to come off after being injured in the final minutes of Hoffenheim's 2-0 defeat by Hamburg, the club said.

Hoffenheim, in their first Bundesliga season, have taken the league by storm topping the standings at the halfway mark with Bayern Munich second on goal difference.

Ibisevic, 24, largely unknown at the start of the season having joined Hoffenheim when they were in the second division, has been outstanding so far netting 18 goals in 17 league matches to help turn the newcomers into title contenders.

Reuters