Caner Erkin set for long Beşiktaş absence

Beşiktaş left-back Caner Erkin is expected to be out of action for six months after rupturing his left Achilles tendon during Sunday's Turkish Super League match against Antalyaspor.

On as a second-half substitute, the 28-year-old lasted just 11 minutes before being taken off with the injury, and was swiftly sent for surgery.

Club doctor Sarper Çetinkaya said: "He had a successful operation. Recovering from Achilles tendon ruptures takes five to six months. He will be walking with a device in his foot for two months; in the fourth and fifth months, we can expect him to start running. His pain threshold is high. He might return to action earlier than his peers."

Erkin left Fenerbahçe for Internazionale Milano in the summer after a six-season spell with the Yellow Canaries but was loaned to Beşiktaş after being denied a place in the starting lineup in Italy.

His absence is a blow for the Black Eagles and Turkey; he has played in all three of Beşiktaş's Group B games in the UEFA Champions League and in two of Turkey's three European Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

Şenol Güneş will most likely draft Serbian defender Duško Tošić in to replace Caner in his starting lineup, with Rhodolfo coming in to partner Marcelo in central defence, but Beşiktaş have other options.

Brazilian winger Adriano can play at left-back, with Olcay Sahan able to take his place further upfield, while defensive midfielder Atiba Hutchinson proved during Slaven Bilić's time as Beşiktaş boss that he is comfortable at left-back too.