Vermaelen out, Stam doubt for Ajax

AFC Ajax have lost Thomas Vermaelen for up to two months while fellow defender Jaap Stam is struggling to be fit for the second leg of the UEFA Cup first-round tie against NK Dinamo Zagreb.

Ankle injury
Although the Amsterdam club won their Dutch Eredivisie encounter at AZ Alkmaar on Sunday, the 3-2 victory was undermined by the news that Vermaelen will be sidelined for eight weeks after tearing a ligament in his left ankle. The 21-year-old centre-back, who had to be substituted a minute before half-time, will also sit out Belgium's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group A games against Finland and Armenia, on 13 and 17 October respectively. The Red Devils conclude their campaign with fixtures against Poland and Azerbaijan in November.

Stam prognosis
Stam, meanwhile, has sprained the medial ligament in his right knee and is expected to be absent for as long as two weeks. The Ajax captain had to skip the AZ match having been injured during the warm-up. The 35-year-old had played 90 minutes in Zagreb last Thursday as Ajax won 1-0, and the club are optimistic he will return for the second leg at the Amsterdam ArenA on 4 October.