West Brom's Gera out for season

WEST BROMWICH, United Kingdom (AFP) –

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Zoltan Gera is tackled by West Ham midfielder Mark Noble during the Premier League match in West Bromwich, central England, on December 16, 2012. Gera has been ruled out of the rest of the season with a knee injury, the Premier League club announced Tuesday.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Zoltan Gera has been ruled out of the rest of the season with a knee injury, the Premier League club announced Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Hungary international injured his left knee during Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup third round draw at Queens Park Rangers and scans confirmed he’d ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

It is the second time in as many campaigns that Gera has suffered a season-ending knee injury after a similar problem kept him sidelined from November 2011 to the start of this term.

Gera, who has scored four goals in 18 appearances this season, is now set to undergo surgery next week and is expected to face between six to nine months’ rehabilitation before regaining match fitness.

“I’m devastated for Zoltan,” Baggies manager Steve Clarke told the club’s official website. “He’s a terrific guy and professional and I want to thank him for his contribution this season. It has been invaluable.

“He’ll now get our full support during the rehab process. Zoltan has already proven he can come back from this injury once and produce at the highest level and I have no doubts he will do so again.”

All of Gera’s goals this season have helped secure league wins, with the Hungarian on target in victories over Liverpool, QPR, Sunderland and Norwich.

West Brom, currently an impressive seventh in the Premier League table, are away to Reading on Saturday.