Bad news for Espanyol's Lacruz

RCD Espanyol's ambitions of continuing their high-flying form in Spain have been hit after Jesús María Lacruz was ruled out for two months with a knee injury.

Jarque return
The 29-year-old defender sprained ligaments in his right knee and was forced off at half-time on Sunday as Los Periquitos' were defeated 2-1 by RC Recreativo de Huelva. Lacruz will undergo surgery today in Barcelona after tests revealed the extent of the injury and he is likely to be out until April. It is a blow for the former Athletic Club Bilbao man, but fifth-placed Espanyol's disappointment has been slightly sated by the return to fitness of another defender, Daniel Jarque, after nine weeks out with a calf injury.