Forlán injury frustrates Villarreal
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Article summary
Villarreal CF forward Diego Forlán will sit out Tuesday's trip to Old Trafford and the rest of Group D after tearing a thigh muscle on international duty.
Article body
Diego Forlán has told Villarreal CF that he will not be available for another three to four weeks after tearing a thigh muscle on international duty.
Specialist examinations
The former Manchester United FC striker missed out on the second leg of Uruguay's FIFA World Cup play-off defeat by Australia after travelling to Argentina to be assessed by specialists in Buenos Aires having played just 18 minutes of the first leg before exacerbating an old injury.
Injury risk
Forlán had surprised many by risking further damage to his thigh by playing in the first leg just ten days into a four-week recovery period imposed after he sustained the initial injury during Villarreal's UEFA Champions League game at SL Benfica on 2 November.
Arruabarrena supportive
However, Uruguay team-mate Rodolfo Arruabarrena backed Forlán's decision, saying: "Uruguay had a lot at stake. If I was Forlán I would have done the same." The striker will miss the Spanish club's remaining UEFA Champions League Group D fixtures, including a trip to Old Trafford to face his former club on Tuesday.