Zenit lose midfielder Danny until 2010
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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FC Zenit St. Petersburg have been left reeling from a "huge blow" as Portuguese international midfielder Danny was ruled out for the rest of the year after tearing cruciate ligaments in his knee at the end of last week.
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FC Zenit St. Petersburg will be without Portuguese international attacking midfielder Danny for the rest of the year after he tore cruciate ligaments in his knee at the end of last week, with coach Dick Advocaat concluding: "This is a huge blow for us."
Long-term absence
Venezuelan-born Danny, 25, picked up the injury in training and flew to Germany for tests. Doctors concluded that he would be out of action for the rest of the Russian Premier-Liga season, with Zenit lying fifth. He is also unlikely to play for the 2007/08 UEFA Cup winners in the inaugural UEFA Europa League in the autumn. "This is a huge blow for us," said Advocaat of the injury to the club's €30m record signing. "It is the equivalent to Manchester United losing Cristiano Ronaldo or CSKA Moskva losing Vágner Love." The former CS Marítimo, Sporting Clube de Portugal and FC Dinamo Moskva player has scored once in eight games for Portugal, and played in eight top-flight games this season without registering.