Bayer Leverkusen will be without Germany international Stefan Reinartz for the next three months after the defensive midfielder fractured his eye socket against Schalke, the club announced Sunday.

The 25-year-old suffered the injury on Saturday night after taking an elbow in the face from Schalke midfielder Marco Hoeger during Leverkusen's 1-0 win at the BayArena, which left the hosts fourth in the league table.

Reinartz, who won the last of his three caps for Germany in June 2013, came off after 25 minutes with heavy facial swelling to his right eye socket and was taken to hospital.

He is expected to undergo an operation during the week.

Leverkusen went top of Group C in the Champions League on Wednesday after a 2-0 win at home to Zenit St Petersburg, ahead of the return leg in Russia in 10 days' time, and they host second-placed Monaco at the end of November.