Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Marco Fabian is likely to miss the first half of the Bundesliga season after therapy on his back injury was unsuccessful. The Mexican international now requires an operation on his lumbar spine.

Following a persistent complaint in his lower back during Frankfurt's recent training camp in Italy, Fabian was forced to rest and undergo a conservative course of treatment with a specialist. The treatment that followed failed, though, and the Mexican is now in the United States where he will be operated on in a clinic in Houston, Texas.

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"It was a big blow for Marco an for us that his back pain was not improving," said Frankfurt board member Fredi Bobic. "We hope for a successful operation and that he will fully recover, all the best to him."

Following a difficult start upon arriving at the Eagles in January 2016, Fabian has blossomed into a key player at the club, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 35 Bundesliga outings.

He suffered back trouble at the start of 2017 but was fit again from Matchday 24 onwards, and was able to represent Mexico at the Confederations Cup in Russia over the summer. The 28-year-old is the third member of coach Niko Kovac's side to miss the season start, with Alex Meier (ankle) and Omar Mascarell (Achilles) also in the treatment room.

Watch: Go behind the scenes with Fabian and Carlos Salcedo at Frankfurt's Media Day

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