Sporting shorn of Rinaudo for three months

Fabián Rinaudo will miss Sporting Clube de Portugal's remaining two matches in the UEFA Europa League group stage after an ankle operation.

The midfielder underwent surgery having fracturing his left ankle after 12 minutes of Thursday's 1-0 defeat by FC Vaslui and will be out of action for three months. "Fabián Rinaudo's surgery took place on Friday," the Portuguese club confirmed. "The surgery was successful and the player could return in 12 weeks."

The reverse in Romania ended a run of ten straight victories in all competitions for Group D leaders Sporting, but they had already qualified for the round of 32 in February after winning their first three matches of the section.

Rinaudo, a summer signing from Club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata who has featured in all six of their European matches this season, now faces a race to be fit for the first of the knockout stages. Sporting will win their section with a game to spare if they overcome visitors FC Zürich in their next game on 1 December.