Injuries take their toll in Germany
Monday, November 1, 2004
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News round-up: Hertha BSC Berlin's Arne Friedrich faces several weeks out with a knee ligament problem.
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Hertha BSC Berlin
BV Borussia Dortmund midfield player Sunday Oliseh is out for two weeks, meanwhile, after undergoing an operation on his left ankle. Dortmund will also be without goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz for the same period due to a shoulder injury.
Another Bundesliga club, 1. FC Nürnberg , have lost defender Dominik Reinhardt for up to four weeks following a muscle injury. The full-back was taken off during Sunday's 2-0 win against FC Hansa Rostock, and he joins on the sidelines strikers Markus Daun (knee) and Marcel Ketelaer (groin), both of whom are out until the winter break.
Also sidelined for the rest of 2004 is 1. FC Kaiserslautern midfield player Patrick Wittich. The 22-year-old, who has not played this season after a knee operation in August, is to have more surgery this week.
Away from Germany, Bulgarian Cup holders PFC Litex Lovech have parted company with coach Stoicho Mladenov after a 3-1 defeat against league leaders PFC CSKA Sofia on Sunday. Mladenov, the former Bulgaria and CSKA coach, took over at Litex during the close season, but his side lost four times in the league, where they lie fifth, and departed the UEFA Cup after a 5-0 defeat by Grazer AK. Assistant coach Georgi Dermendzhiev has taken temporary charge.
Albacete Balompié goalkeeper Raúl Valbuena will be out of action for the next two and a half months after fracturing his right wrist during Sunday's Primera División game against RC Deportivo La Coruña. The 29-year-old was hurt in a challenge by Juan Carlos Valerón and summer signing Ronald Gaspercic will deputise in his absence
Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland have extended the contracts of striker Frank Kristensen and defender Kristian Bak Nielsen. The 27-year-old Kristensen has signed until summer 2007 and Bak, 22, until December of the same year. Midtjylland sports director Jens Ørgaard said of the latter: "Kristian is close to being the ultimate footballer - a young guy with a lot of potential, who I consider one of the five best defenders in this country."
