Montpellier suffers massive Ninga injury

If Montpellier didn't have bad luck, it wouldn't have any luck at all.

The south coast side is staring down the barrel at another relegation battle after goal machine Casimir Ninga ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in training Tuesday.

Ninga, 23, is expected to miss between six and nine months, essentially erasing any hopes of the Chad international playing again this season, according to a statement on the club's website. The pacey striker will have surgery on his right knee Thursday.

The injury is a massive setback for La Paillade, whose seemingly perpetual battle to stave off the drop is certain to be hampered by the loss of its leading scorer. Steve Mounie, Ryad Boudebouz, and veteran Souleymane Camara will now be depended upon in Ninga's stead.

Arguably the single-most important player in Ligue 1 in terms of a club's dependence, Ninga is responsible for five of Montpellier's 12 goals scored this season, including a dazzling treble against Dijon on Oct. 1.

Sitting 15th in the table on 10 points amid a logjam of sides, Montpellier is just three points above Lille and the perilous relegation zone.

After finishing ninth, 15th, seventh, and 15th in successive campaigns after shocking the French top flight as champ in 2011-12, Frederic Hantz's lot was hoping to continue the trend of seesaw seasons with a top-half finish this campaign.

Without Ninga, that will be a tough ask.