This is bitter news for Preußen Münster and Dennis Grote: The captain of the third division promoted team will be out for a long time with a serious injury.

Preußen Münster defeated second-division side Eintracht Braunschweig 3:1 on Tuesday evening. However, the Eagles could not rejoice over this respectable victory. Captain Dennis Grote had to be substituted due to a knee injury.

Subsequent examinations confirmed dire fears: The 36-year-old suffered a serious knee injury. Grote suffered a strain of the posterior cruciate ligament and a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. This was announced by the SCP on Wednesday morning. According to the club, a longer period of absence is to be expected. There is no prognosis so far.

“This is of course very bitter news, which overshadows the preparation so far,” said sporting director Peter Niemeyer in a club statement. “Dennis is a very important part of our team with his experience and qualities on and off the pitch. We will now support him to the best of our ability.”

Grote had come on at the break in the test match against Braunschweig. Not even a minute had passed in the second half when the veteran injured himself during a defensive action. After a short treatment break, he had to be substituted again. An MRI on Wednesday morning then revealed the shock diagnosis.

Dennis Grote: Probably no match against former clubs RWE and MSV

So it should be clear by now: When Preußen play host to Grote’s former club Rot-Weiss Essen on matchday four, the experienced midfielder will not be able to play. Due to his noisy departure from RWE one and a half years ago, the return to Hafenstraße would probably have turned into a gauntlet for the former German U21 international.

Nevertheless, Grote had said after the promotion that he was looking forward to the match. “These are hot games, of course, and for both sides, for both fan camps. Such explosive games are what football is all about,” said Grote. The Kaiserslautern native was also looking forward to the clash with former club MSV Duisburg (matchday 8).

But a reunion with his former clubs (Grote played 81 times for RWE and 61 times for Duisburg) on the pitch will probably not happen in the first half of the season.