Luckless Ümit sidelined again
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Article summary
Werder Bremen will be without Ümit Davala for at least two months after the Turkish international suffered a hip injury in training.
Article body
Extended absence
The German UEFA Champions League contenders are unlikely to be able to call on the defender until the new year, although a more detailed check later this week should establish the extent of the latest problem to plague the 32-year-old, who starred at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Hard knocks
"I am getting older and it is getting more difficult to recover from injuries," said Davala. "All these setbacks take their toll, especially psychologically." Last season, the right-back made just ten Bundesliga appearances for Bremen due to an inflamed tendon.
Possible replacement
Coach Thomas Schaaf is now considering signing a replacement in January. "We will have to be patient and wait for eight weeks," said Schaaf. "By then we should know if we need to bring in some cover in the transfer window."
Pecking order
Ümit's injuries have left him down the pecking order at Bremen, where he is second choice behind Patrick Owomoyela at right-back. The German-born player impressed at Istanbulspor AS and Galatasaray SK before joining Bremen from AC Milan in 2003.