González pain for Panathinaikos

Panathinaikos FC will be without playmaker Ezequiel González for their UEFA Cup campaign after the 26-year-old suffered a serious knee injury.

Surgery required
The Argentinian was hurt during a pre-season friendly against English side Southampton FC and scans have revealed cruciate ligament damage to his left leg. He will have surgery on Thursday and is not expected to return to action before January 2007. González joined the Athens club in January 2004 and has struck 14 goals in 59 league games. He played all six of Panathinaikos's group-stage matches in last season's UEFA Champions League. Panathinaikos, who finished third in Greece last term, will begin their 2006/07 campaign on 19 August and enter the UEFA Cup in September's first round.