Feyenoord duo sidelined by surgery

Feyenoord will be without striker Romeo Castelen and defender Pieter Collen for the duration of the UEFA Cup group stage after both players had operations today.

Persistent problems
The 23-year-old Dutch international Castelen has yet to feature for the Rotterdam club this season and underwent surgery on an injured ankle, while Belgium's Collen, 26, who has been limited to a solitary substitute appearance, had a procedure for a long-term shoulder problem.

New year return
The comeback target for both men is the end of the Eredivisie winter break, with Feyenoord doctor Robbart van Linschoten explaining: "The expectation is that Romeo will only be able to work on his recovery after six weeks in plaster, and should aim for the first match of the new year, while Pieter had a persistent shoulder injury after a number of dislocations." Feyenoord will face FC Basel 1893, Blackburn Rovers FC, AS Nancy-Lorraine and Wisla Kraków in UEFA Cup Group E.