Cruz suffered the injury during Sunday's 1-0 Serie A win over Reggina and underwent a scan on Tuesday, Inter said on their Web site (www.inter.it).

Inter did not give an estimate for how long the forward would be sidelined for but Italian media has suggested Cruz could be out for up to two months.

Inter, who face Sporting Lisbon in Champions League Group B on Wednesday, have Argentine Hernan Crespo and Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their first choice strikers.

Brazilian Adriano returned from a month's rest and rehabilitation on Sunday while Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba is another attacking option available to coach Roberto Mancini but is currently suffering from a calf injury.