WOLFSBURG, Germany (Kyodo) Injury-prone former Japan midfielder Shinji Ono has been forced out of action after sustaining a knee injury in VfL Bochum's 2-0 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund in the German first division on Saturday.
Ono tore ligaments in his right knee, and the Bundesliga's official Web site reported he is likely to be sidelined for several weeks.
Injuries and other factors have limited Ono to just eight appearances this season.
The 29-year-old made consecutive starts for the first time this term in Saturday's match but he limped off in the 54th minute and is almost certain to miss the rest of the season.