Fred injury leaves Lyon short

Olympique Lyonnais' Brazilian striker Fred could miss the start of the new season after breaking a bone in his foot while on Copa América duty in Venezuela.

Cracked metatarsal
The 23-year-old, who has scored 25 times in 51 league games for the French side over the last two seasons, cracked a metatarsal in training after Brazil's 2-0 opening loss to Mexico in Maracaibo. "He has been released to tend to his foot," said Brazil's head medical officer José Luis Runco. It is not yet clear exactly how long Fred will be out of action, but he is rated extremely doubtful for the 24 July French Super Cup game against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in Tianjin, China that will raise the curtain for the new French season. As Ligue 1 champions, Lyon start their UEFA Champions League campaign in the group stage.