Forlán leaves Villarreal forlorn
Friday, November 4, 2005
Article summary
Villarreal CF striker Diego Forlán faces a race against time to be fit for the Matchday 5 trip to his former club Manchester United FC.
Article body
Thigh tear
The 26-year-old was hurt in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League Group D tie against SL Benfica, limping off in the 52nd minute. Scans confirmed the player has a small tear to a muscle in his left thigh and he is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks.
Slim hope
The injury rules Forlán out of Uruguay's forthcoming 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Australia. The first match falls on 12 November in Montevideo before the second leg in Sydney four days later. Forlán has travelled to his homeland for treatment, but has only a slim hope of playing at Old Trafford on 22 November.