Shafa hit by double injury blow

Azerbaijani Player of the Year Zaur Tagizade and another international, Romal Guseynov, will both be out until the end of the Yuksek Deste season after picking up injuries in Bulgaria last week.

Double trouble
Tagizade, 22, suffered a back injury while on international duty and is set to undergo surgery in the near future, keeping him out of action for at least three months, doctors said on Monday. Guseynov, 18, will take at least six months to overcome torn knee ligaments, an injury that he sustained in his country's 3-0 loss against Bulgaria last Wednesday when he collided with goalkeeper Yordan Gospodinov. He has been flown from Sofia to Turkey for treatment on the injury.

'Out for the rest of the season'
Both internationals play for FC Shafa in the Azerbaijani first division. "It is certain now that Tagizade and Guseynov are out for the rest of the season. I can only thank the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) president Fuad Musayev for his care of the players, who were treated very well," Shafa coach Vagif Sadygov said.