Kevin Strootman

Injured Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman announced he be sidelined until the new year after undergoing knee surgery.

The Netherlands international has not featured for Roma since January 25.

He was expected to be fit for the start of the season after a left knee injury limited him to just four appearances in the 2014-15 campaign, but has not been involved.

The 25-year-old, who joined Roma in the summer of 2013 from PSV Eindhoven, wrote on his Facebook page: “There has been a lot of speculation in the media about my rehabilitation.

“Unfortunately due to a lack of power in my left leg I cannot compete at the highest level right now.

“The last few weeks we have consulted many top professors all over (the world), and they and the medical staff of Roma have advised me to reconstruct the existing anterior cruciate ligament into another position in order for me to have less problems with my knee in the future and to regain my power again.

“I am hugely disappointed that I cannot contribute to Roma and the Dutch national team for the next few months, but I will do everything to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Strootman enjoyed a strong debut campaign with Roma, scoring five goals and setting up six more in 25 league starts before sustaining a knee injury in March 2014.

He missed the World Cup in Brazil last summer and returned in November 2014 eight months after undergoing a knee operation.

Strootman sustained further damage to his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this year and again went under the knife.