Esbjerg lose Jensen to injury
Wednesday, May 7, 2003
Article summary
Esbjerg fB left-back Martin Jensen will miss the rest of the season because of a shoulder problem.
Article body
Complicated injury
Jensen hurt the shoulder in a match against Odense BK last month when he collided with OB striker Søren Berg. The initial prognosis was that he would be out of action for a month but the problem is more serious than first thought. "It is a complicated injury and I have to obey doctors' orders," Jensen said. "I have had a band implanted and it cannot be removed for three months. Before then, I am not allowed to train properly."
Cruel blow
The 24-year-old is unlikely to be fit in time for the new Superliga season which starts on 27 July. His absence is a blow to coach Ove Pedersen who had to play striker Henrik Nielsen as a left-back in Esbjerg's 2-1 defeat by champions Brøndby IF last weekend. Until then Jensen had not missed a game since 21 October 2001.
Hard task ahead
"As a defender you have to run more than you do as a striker," Nielsen said. "And you have to think differently too. Martin is almost irreplaceable in his position and I have a really hard job ahead of me."
