The Dutch midfielder will be sidelined for "at least two months," according to a statement on the Gelsenkirchen club's website, after sustaining the injury at Schalke's winter training camp in Doha.
The 26-year-old has already flown back to Germany to begin rehabilitation, but a return is unlikely before March meaning he could miss both legs of the Champions League clash against Galatasaray as well as a host of Bundesliga matches.
Team-mate Christoph Moritz has also flown back to Gelsenkirchen after tearing knee ligaments, although his injury is not reported to be so bad and he could still be available for Schalke's first Bundesliga fixture of 2013, against Hannover on January 18.
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