MADRID (AFP) - Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci could be out for up to four months after undergoing a successful operation on his right thigh that he injured in Turkey's Euro 2008 quarter-final win over Croatia.

The 28-year-old Villarreal forward played a pivotal role in getting Turkey to the last four, his two late goals against the Czech Republic earning them a place in the quarter-finals, where they saw off the Croatians on penalties having levelled the match at 1-1 with the final kick of the match.

However, his injury prevented him from taking any role in the semi-final which saw Turkey lose 3-2 to Germany.