Derlei hope for Porto
Friday, April 23, 2004
Article summary
FC Porto's Derlei may be ready to return to UEFA Champions League action after recovering from a knee injury.
Article body
After an absence of nearly five months, FC Porto striker Derlei could be ready to return to action - just in time for the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against RC Deportivo La Coruña.
Complicated injury
Porto coach José Mourinho has included the 29-year-old in his squad for this weekend's SuperLiga fixture against FC Alverca. Derlei sustained a serious knee injury against the same opponents in December and has not played since undergoing surgery on damaged ligaments. However, news of his return to the squad suggests the Brazilian may be ready to play his part in his side's push for the Champions League.
Talismanic forward
The scorer of two goals in Porto's 3-2 UEFA Cup final win against Celtic FC last season in Seville, a fit Derlei would be a massive boost for Mourinho's side when they travel to Spain for the second leg against Deportivo on 4 May with the scores level at 0-0 from the first leg.
