ACTUALITE |
07.09.2007
Eto`o faces three-month lay-off
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto`o is expected to be sidelined for three months after undergoing surgery on his right thigh on Saturday.
Eto`o, who plays for Barcelona, partially tore his thigh tendon during a friendly against Inter Milan on Wednesday.
He is likely to miss virtually all the Champions League group stage as they face Lyon, Stuttgart and Rangers in Group E.
Doctor Ramon Cugat, who performed an hour-long operation on Eto`o, said the striker couldn`t resume training for "at least two months".
He added that Eto`o will remain in hospital until Monday and would need 10 days of complete rest.
Cugat said surgery was necessary because the muscle bore most weight when a player took a shot.
"A professional player cannot risk this muscle. Without it, he cannot function properly," Cugat said.
The three-time African player of the year spent five months on the sidelines last season due to a right knee injury.
The Cameroon striker`s absence will at least solve coach Frank Rijkaard`s selection headache for a while.
Rijkaard has the task this season of deciding between a quartet of top forwards - Eto`o, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and recent signing Thierry Henry.
In Barcelona`s opening game of the season against Racing Santander last Sunday, Rijkaard left Henry on the bench until he replaced Messi in the second half.
The game ended scoreless.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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