Holland striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar had surgery last night after he broke his nose during a Europa League match in Cyprus on Thursday.

Huntelaar collided with his Schalke 04 team mate Joel Matip nine minutes from time in the away match against AEK Larnaca, which ended in a goalless draw.

The Schalke striker was taken off with blood streaming down his face and went straight to hospital, from where he was dismissed at 1.45 a.m. following an hour-long operation.

Huntelaar, who complained of severe pain, will be fitted a mask which may enable him to play Sunday’s Bundesliga match against Hannover 96.

"We will try to do everything to have him back with us as soon as possible," club sports director Horst Heldt told reporters.

Schalke are second in the Bundesliga, four points off leaders Bayern Munich. Huntelaar is the club’s topscorer with ten league goals in 11 matches.

Observers doubt however whether he’ll be able to play as soon as Sunday or join the Dutch national team a day later as it starts preparing for friendly matches against Switzerland and Germany.