Brazilian break for Nery

Brazilian surgeon
The Brazilian international fractured his left hand in the Bundesliga game against VfL Wolfsburg two weeks ago and has been on the sidelines ever since. In a bid to have him fit to play some part of the club's UEFA Champions League campaign, which starts at FC Internazionale Milano tomorrow night, he is now heading home where a specialist who works with the Brazilian national team will operate on his hand.

Unknown absence
Bremen do not yet know when the defender will be able to return to action. "We will only know how long he will need to recover after the surgery," said coach Thomas Schaaf. General manager Klaus Allofs added: "The player asked us for permission to have the surgery performed in Brazil by a doctor he trusts. We agreed because we believe that it will help him return to action quicker."