Sytchev out for at least a month

FC Spartak Moscow striker Dmitri Sytchev will miss at least a month of the Russian season after tests showed he needs surgery on a broken foot.

Rising star
The 18-year-old international is one of the country's rising stars, having created or scored all four goals scored by Russia at this summer's FIFA World Cup. He has already hit the target nine times in 14 games for Spartak this season.

Bone fragment
Sytchev is certain to miss the upcoming Premier-Liga fixtures against FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow and FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, after limping off with an injury in a recent match against FC Zenit St. Petersburg. The diagnosis showed that he had suffered a minor foot fracture, and there is also a bone fragment that needs to be removed during the operation.

'Will not play'
"It is quite a widespread injury in football, and we do need surgery to fix it," Spartak team doctor Yuri Vasilkov said. "The club has not yet decided exactly where it will take place, but it is obvious that Dmitri will not play for at least a month."

International blow
The injury undermines Sytchev's chances of playing for Russia in their EURO 2004™ campaign opener against the Republic of Ireland in Moscow on 7 September. After his showing in Korea/Japan, he would be sorely missed.