Upson blow for Birmingham
Monday, January 5, 2004
Article summary
Birmingham City FC's England defender Matthew Upson could be out for six weeks with an ankle injury.
Article body
England defender Matthew Upson could be out for six weeks after suffering a serious ankle injury while playing for Birmingham City FC.
Good form
Upson was hurt following a challenge with Andrew Cole during Birmingham's 4-0 FA Cup third-round victory against Blackburn Rovers FC on Saturday. The 24-year-old's injury will be a concern for England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson with Rio Ferdinand due to begin an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test.
Initial worry
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said: "When Upson went over I had feared he had broken his ankle. Thankfully that is not the case, but you are still looking at six weeks out of action." Bruce also faces a month without left-back Stan Lazaridis after he suffered a groin injury.
