Kovac blow for Bayern
Monday, January 28, 2002
Article summary
FC Bayern München's Niko Kovac has suffered a knee injury and could be out for up to seven weeks.
Article body
FC Bayern München midfield player Niko Kovac suffered a knee injury in training on Sunday and could be out of action for up to seven weeks.
Unfortunate clash
The 30-year-old, who missed Bayern's 5-1 humiliation against FC Schalke 04 in the 1. Bundesliga on Saturday, sustained the injury when he clashed with team-mate Carsten Jancker during Sunday's training session. The former Hamburger SV player damaged his interior right knee ligaments and further tests will reveal if he has also torn his cruciate ligaments.
More Hitzfeld woes
If the injury is worse than initially feared, Kovac's involvement in the remainder of Bayern's UEFA Champions League campaign and the forthcoming 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan could be in jeopardy. His absence will add to Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's woes, as the European champions are already short of a replacement in the right-back position after Bosnia-Herzegovnian international Hasan Salihamidzic tore cruciate ligaments last autumn. Salihamidzic is not expected back before March.
Tarnat suspension
French left-back Bixente Lizerazu is also out with an Achilles problem, while his replacement Michael Tarnat is set to serve a suspension after being sent off for a challenge on Schalke's Andreas Möller on Saturday.
