"I felt pain in the same knee during the match last weekend," the 30-year-old player told the club's official website on Thursday.

"The scans confirmed that it is the same injury as in the summer," added the German international.

Manager Thomas Schaaf announced the news today "He needs a longer break and we don't expect him to be playing again until the new year."

It comes as a big blow for Schaaf especially that Frings helped his side recovering from a disastrous start of the season and being now third with six points behind leaders Bayern Munich.