Meniscus surgery sidelines Lars Bender for next six weeks
On the same week his twin Sven finally returned to the Bayer Leverkusen starting XI, it was revealed that Lars Bender had undergone meniscus surgery and will be out until at least the end of March.
Lars Bender had a bit more luck with injuries this season than his twin brother Sven. Lars was able to appear in five additional fixtures whilst his close kin struggled with more endemic knee problems. Now doubt has been cast upon whether the two German national team vets will play together at all again before both 31-year-olds retire at the end of the season.
Lars must evidently cope with one final major injury before he hangs up his cleats. It is surely a bitter pill to swallow for a talented player who's career has been regrettably been defined by many major injuries. The scorer of one of Euro 2012's most memorable goals has not featured for die Werkself since round 18. The club revealed today that a contusion had turned into a tear during his attempts to come back and that surgery had taken place this Friday.