Munich, April 24 (IANS): German football club Bayern Munich has lost defender Holger Badstuber to a thigh injury for at least four months.

The 26-year-old, who recently returned from a similar injury, sustained a fresh thigh muscle injury during Tuesday's 6-1 victory over Porto in the Champions League's quarterfinal. As a consequence, Badstuber will undergo a surgery in the coming days in Vail, Colorado, reports Xinhua.

"I am very disappointed at the moment. However, I want to remain positive and to return completely healthy. I know that Bayern will do everything to give me the chance to become a key part of the team again," Badstuber said on Thursday.

It is a heavy setback for the German international, who since 2012 has suffered two cruciate ligament ruptures and one tendon rupture to miss 660 days overall. He made his comeback on February 15 to suffer his fourth serious injury two months later.

"I am so sorry for Holger. He worked so hard for his comeback again and now this. He won't be discouraged by this new injury. He knows how important he is for us," Bayern chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

The Bundesliga front-runners, who are on the brink of lifting their 25th German championship, face 13th placed Berlin in the 30th round on Saturday.