Viana ruled out of Barcelona tie
Friday, December 6, 2002
Article summary
Newcastle United FC's Portuguese midfield player Hugo Viana will miss next Tuesday's trip to FC Barcelona.
Article body
Newcastle United FC will be without the Portugal midfield player Hugo Viana until after Christmas after he damaged a shoulder in training.
Dislocated shoulder
The 19-year-old is believed to have partially dislocated the shoulder in a collision with a team-mate. "It's a huge blow for us and the lad himself," Newcastle's manager Sir Bobby Robson told the club's official website. "I'm very sad for him. He's going to be missing at a crucial time for us, and he could be out for several weeks."
Strikers suspended
It means Viana will miss Tuesday's trip to FC Barcelona in the second group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Newcastle need a positive result after starting their Group A campaign with a 4-1 home defeat by Internazionale FC last week and will already be without the suspended Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy.
First goal
Viana was signed for €13m from Sporting Clube de Portugal in June 2002. He has featured in five of Newcastle's seven Champions League games so far, scoring in the 3-2 victory against Feyenoord that took the English club through to the last 16.
