Titov blow for Spartak

FC Spartak Moskva captain Yegor Titov is recovering in hospital after undergoing knee surgery.

Long absence
The 26-year-old, who is also captain of the Russian national side, travelled to Germany to have the operation but will now miss the remainder of the Russian domestic season after aggravating the injury in Spartak's 1-1 draw in their local derby against FC Lokomotic Moskva last week.

'I feel fine'
"I feel fine," Titov said from the hospital in Leverkusen. "Titov had severe damage to this cruciate ligament, but the operation was successful," added a hospital spokesman. "I hope that he will be able to start training again in January."

No action until 2003
Titov, who will miss Russia's EURO 2004™ qualifiers against Georgia and Albania next month, will remain in Leverkusen for another two or three weeks. He is unlikely to be available for UEFA Champions League duty until early in 2003.