Injury ends Van Nistelrooy's time at Hamburg

HAMBURG (AFP) - Former Dutch international striker Ruud van Nistelrooy looks to have played his last match for Bundesliga side SV Hamburg after he was ruled out for several weeks on Sunday with a left calf injury.

The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Manchester United hitman suffered the injury in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Hanover and with just four league matches remaining the odds on him being fit to play again are not good.

"It is hard to swallow, I hope to be able to come back as quickly as possible, but it is clear that I will be absent for a fair amount of time," said van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy's contract is up at the end of the season and he made no secret of his displeasure when the club refused to allow him leave for Real Madrid in January and said at the time he would not extend his contract.

Van Nistelrooy, who won the Premier League title with United and two Spanish league crowns with Real, has scored 12 goals, including seven this term, in 35 Bundesliga appearances for the club since joining in January, 2010.