Schalke suffer Asamoah agony
Monday, September 12, 2005
Article summary
FC Schalke 04's UEFA Champions League aspirations have taken an early blow as striker Gerald Asamoah faces "at least two months out" with a knee injury.
Article body
Ligament damage
The 26-year-old German international damaged ligaments and suffered cartilage damage to his left knee in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bayer 04 Leverkusen following a 41st-minute challenge with Simon Rolfes. Asamoah travelled to see Dr Karl Balhorn yesterday, with the specialist confirming the extent of the injury to the player and Schalke's club doctor Thorsten Rarreck, who said: "Asa will be out for at least two months."
Champions League
Asamoah joined Schalke from Hannover 96 in 1999 and last season enjoyed his finest campaign at the Arena AufSchalke, scoring eight goals in 31 Bundesliga outings to propel the Ruhr club into the Champions League, where they open their campaign at PSV Eindhoven tomorrow night. The striker will hope to be fit for the return fixture on 23 November, by which time his side will have also faced AC Milan at home and Fenerbahçe SK twice.
