Van Hooijdonk's unlucky break
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Article summary
Pierre van Hooijdonk is out of Feyenoord's remaining UEFA Champions League first group stage games.
Article body
Broken ankle
Tests have revealed that the Dutch international broke his ankle in the Eredivisie defeat by AFC Ajax on 6 October. The problem did not show up on an initial x-ray and was diagnosed only today as a hairline fracture of the right ankle.
A month off
Van Hooijdonk had been receiving treatment while away with the Netherlands squad for the EURO 2004™ match against Austria last night. But he now faces a month on the sidelines and is expected to miss Feyenoord's three remaining matches in the first group stage. The Dutch club lie second in Group E with five points from three games.