Butelle stable after spleen surgery

Emergency surgery
Butelle, a French Under-21 international who arrived from FC Metz as Valencia's first summer signing in June, was rushed to hospital where he was operated on yesterday morning after a leakage of blood was detected in his abdomen. The 21-year-old is expected to remain in hospital for a week.

Strange coincidence
Butelle is the second Valencia player to lose his spleen in a fortnight. Promising midfield player Raúl Albiol had a similar operation two weeks ago after being involved in a car accident. The Spanish U19 international has since been discharged from intensive care.