Jadson and Shakhtar feel for Fernandinho

A serious injury to Fernandinho has been a major blow for Ukrainian titleholders FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the run-up to their UEFA Champions League Group H opener against FK Partizan, with compatriot Jadson saying "the absence of such a player will not go unnoticed".

Attacking midfielder Fernandinho broke his right leg in Friday's 1-0 Ukrainian Premier League defeat by FC Obolon Kyiv, and Jadson – who scored the winner against SV Werder Bremen in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup final – fears his side will suffer from being without the 25-year-old.

"Fernandinho is an important player," said Jadson. "He is at his absolute peak. His recent call-up by Brazil was just reward for his efforts. The absence of such a player will not go unnoticed and will affect our game. It will be very to hard to make up for being without such a clever player who can do anything on the pitch. I wish Fernandinho a quick recovery and promise him and our supporters that we will do our best to get a good result."

Last autumn Jadson had been among the scorers as Shakhtar beat Serbian visitors Partizan 4-1 in Donetsk in the UEFA Europa League group stage. The diminutive midfielder is taking little comfort from that precedent though.

"There is no point looking back to last year," said the 26-year-old. "There is no doubt about it, there are no easy games in the Champions League. We have a lot of respect for our first opponents. Partizan are a strong well-organised team. They have come a long way and brought in some top-class players."

With Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu having carried out a painstaking analysis of Partizan, Jadson reckons his side are well prepared for the challenge. "We have gone over their style and tactics carefully," he said. "Now we know everything we need to know about them. We have to stay on our toes and focus properly. If we don't, any mistake will be punished."