Werder Bremen will be without the Bundesliga's joint top-scorer Franco Di Santo for Sunday's northern derby against Hamburg with both sides struggling at the foot of the league table.

The 25-year-old striker damaged knee ligaments on Wednesday and misses the clash at Hamburg's Imtech Arena with both teams in the relegation places for the first time in their 101st meeting.

Along with Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze, plus Eintracht Frankfurt's Alexander Meier and Mainz's Shinji Okazaki, ex-Chelsea forward Di Santo has scored six goals this season.

In total, the Argentina international has ten goals in 43 top-flight appearances in Germany.

"It's obviously a setback for us," said Bremen's caretaker coach Viktor Skripnik.

"Franco had been in great form, but we do have alternative options in the squad who are chomping at the bit to be involved and who have our complete faith."

After Robin Dutt was sacked last month with Werder bottom of the table, Bremen have won their last two league matches under Skripnik to climb up to 16th while Hamburg are second from bottom after losing three of their last four games.