Dortmund's Mkhitaryan out six weeks with right hamstring injury

The Armenian playmaker suffered the injury after 33 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 loss at Hertha Berlin, a defeat that leaves his side in the relegation zone with two games left before the winter break.

"He felt a twinge and that's not good for us when we have a midweek match," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp on Saturday. "He'll probably miss the rest of the first half of the season."

Mkhitaryan may also miss Dortmund's first game of 2014 at Bayer Leverkusen, but the Armenia international should be back for the resumption of the Champions League in mid-February.

"Thanks dear friends for your warm wishes," Mkhitaryan told his fans on Twitter. "Hope to be back stronger after my injury! I am convinced 2015 will be a successfull year in our club and I will do my best to make happy everyone of you!"

The club says on its website that a medical examination Sunday morning confirmed the extent of the injury. Dortmund, the 2011 and 2012 champion, next faces tough games against Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen.