De Cock ruled out for Brugge
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Article summary
Defender Olivier De Cock will miss the rest of Club Brugge KV's season including the Belgian Cup final.
Article body
Standard threat
The 28-year-old requires surgery on both of his ankles on Monday and will sit out the last five games of the campaign. Brugge are eleven points behind league leaders RSC Anderlecht but have a four-point advantage over R. Standard de Liège in third. The top two clubs will enter the Champions League.
Cup final
"It is a shame, but I just could not continue this way," said De Cock. "A piece of bone is causing problems in the left ankle, and there is also something wrong with the right." He will also miss the Belgian Cup final against KSK Beveren on 23 May.
July hope
De Cock will be absent for his country's friendlies against Turkey in Brussels on 28 April and against the Netherlands in Eindhoven on 29 May, which form part of preparations for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers beginning in September. He added: "To be fit again on 1 July, when pre-season training starts, is my goal."
