Trabzonspor's Vittek sidelined for six months

Trabzonspor AŞ will be without striker Róbert Vittek for the whole of the UEFA Champions League group stage because of a cruciate ligament injury.

Vittek was forced off four minutes into the second half of Saturday's 1-0 defeat by İstanbul BB SK, with Trabzonspor subsequently confirming that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The Slovakian international, who only joined from MKE Ankaragücü in September, is expected to be out until March. He spent more than five months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem last term.

Şenol Güneş' team kicked off Group B with a 1-0 triumph over 2010 winners FC Internazionale Milano. They host Ligue 1 titleholders LOSC Lille Métropole on Tuesday week.

Vittek will also miss Slovakia's concluding UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers, against section leaders Russia on 7 October and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia four days later. Slovakia, Russia, the Republic of Ireland and Armenia all have realistic hopes of finishing in the top two.