Bayer Leverkusen's star striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez is out of Friday's Bundesliga clash at Hamburg with a groin injury, his club confirmed on Wednesday.

"Because of a small tear in the area of his left adductor the Mexican forward misses the away game at Hamburg," Leverkusen wrote on their website.

His club has not said how long Hernandez will be out, with three games left before Bayer host Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on February 21.

The 28-year-old ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid forward ended a barren spell in front of goal last Saturday by netting in Leverkusen's 3-2 home defeat against Borussia Moenchengladbach, a result which left them ninth.

His 34th-minute header against Gladbach was his first in Germany's top flight since October.

Despite a disappointing tally of eight goals this season in all competitions, Hernandez is still Leverkusen's top scorer with six goals in 17 league games this term.