Dire outcome for Sporting's Derlei

Sporting Clube de Portugal have confirmed that Brazilian striker Derlei will miss the UEFA Champions League group stage with torn cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Worst-case scenario
The 32-year-old sustained the injury in training on Wednesday and medical tests have revealed a worst-case scenario for the player. Sporting say he will undergo surgery "as soon as possible - even next week" but are resigned to being without him for the next six months. A UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto, Derlei left Portugal for FC Dinamo Moskva but returned last season on loan with SL Benfica before making a permanent move to Sporting this summer. He scored the first goal of the 2007/08 Portuguese Liga season for a Sporting side that face Manchester United FC, AS Roma and FC Dynamo Kyiv in Group F.