Pogatetz out for season
Friday, March 31, 2006
Article summary
Middlesbrough FC defender Emanuel Pogatetz faces a long lay-off after suffering a broken nose and jaw during last night's defeat by FC Basel 1893.
Article body
Middlesbrough FC defender Emanuel Pogatetz is out for the rest of the season after breaking his nose and jaw during last night's game at FC Basel 1893.
Stretchered off
The 23-year-old Austrian international was stretchered off during his side's 2-0 UEFA Cup quarter-final first-leg defeat in Switzerland after a clash of heads with Basel midfielder Mladen Petrić. He was taken to hospital for tests but was permitted to fly home with the Middlesbrough party this morning.
Surgery needed
It has been confirmed that Pogatetz will undergo surgery next week for a broken nose and fractured maxilla - the bone near the upper jaw which holds the teeth in the skull. He had previously needed five stitches in a facial wound during the Premiership match against Bolton Wanderers FC last Sunday. Middlesbrough welcome Basel to England next Thursday.
