Dynamo defender Diakhate out for season
Monday, February 9, 2009
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FC Dynamo Kyiv have received a blow ahead of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against Valencia CF with the news that defender Pape Diakhate will miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee during a friendly match.
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FC Dynamo Kyiv defender Pape Diakhate will miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee during a friendly match against FC Rubin Kazan.
Surgery
The 24-year-old Senegal centre-back damaged his meniscus in Friday's fixture in Marbella and will now sit out Dynamo's UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against Valencia CF on 18 and 26 February followed by the resumption of the Ukrainian season the next weekend, with the capital side six points clear at the top. "I'm heading to Belgium for surgery," Diakhate said. "If it's successful, I may be back on track after four or five months."
Asatiani returns
His place in the domestic lineup could be filled by Georgian international Malkhaz Asatiani, who has re-signed on loan from FC Lokomotiv Moskva until the end of the season. Kiev-born Asatiani, 27, had a previous loan spell in the second half of 2008, making 12 appearances. "I'm really happy that I have an opportunity to help Dynamo," Asatiani told uefa.com as he headed out to Marbella.