Elia likely to miss rest of season

Eljero Elia could miss the remainder of Hamburger SV's campaign after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury he picked up in November.

The 23-year-old, a summer signing from FC Twente, has been struggling since limping off 15 minutes into HSV's 1-1 draw at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on 28 November. He has played through the discomfort ever since, and re-examination revealed a bone fracture in his left ankle which medics believe he has had all season, the problem worsening against Mainz. "People have only seen a weak Elia and did not know why," said the Dutch international. "I should have rested but I wanted to help the team."

Hamburg expect Elia will be out for four to six weeks, possibly ending his campaign. "This is a bitter blow," said coach Bruno Labbadia, whose team have been drawn against R. Standard de Liège in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals on 1 and 8 April. "It is very sad that Eljero will be missing, but unfortunately his situation did not improve the way we had hoped. It is important he now fully recovers. We have had to contend with so many injuries this season; we will do so again."