Athletic lose Herrera, Slovan sign Zé Vítor

Athletic Club midfielder Ander Herrera could be sidelined for six weeks after damaging cartilage in his right knee, while the Spanish side's opening UEFA Europa League Group F opponents ŠK Slovan Bratislava have signed Brazilian Zé Vítor.

The 22-year-old Herrera, a summer acquisition from Real Zaragoza, was taken off 66 minutes into Athletic's 2-1 loss at RCD Espanyol on Sunday, with tests showing he had suffered a knee injury. The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship winner will miss Thursday's group stage opener against Slovan in Slovakia as well as Athletic's first home encounter, versus Paris Saint-Germain FC on 29 September.

Slovan, meanwhile, have taken midfielder Zé Vítor on loan from São Paulo FC, with the 19-year-old described by coach Vladimír Weiss as "an exciting player, something different from what we've got". Zé Vítor has represented Brazil at Under-20 level, and Weiss added: "We have great expectations of him. We hope bringing in such players is a sign of what lies ahead for us." Slovan's other significant recruits include Czech striker Lukáš Hartig, who played under Weiss at FC Artmedia Petržalka, and FC Nitra goalkeeper Lukáš Hroššo.