Diakhite faces long Lazio absence

S.S. Lazio will be without Modibo Diakhite for about four months after the 20-year-old French centre-back fractured his fibula in Saturday's Serie A draw with Torino FC.

Long absence
Diakhite, who made his first team debut last season, played from the start against Torino as centre-backs Emilson Cribari, Giglielmo Stendardo and Sebastiano Siviglia were on the sidelines. But his injury has ruled him out of the return leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round trip to FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti on Tuesday with the score at 1-1 and he would be unlikely to return for the group stage should Lazio make it through.

Further concerns
Stendardo and Cribari both suffered their injuries in the first leg against Dinamo but could both be back in Bucharest. Cribari may play wearing a protective mask after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone. However, Lazio coach Delio Rossi will also have problems in midfield as Valon Behrami and Massimo Mutarelli will be suspended after being sent off in the home leg Stefano Mauri is still training separately from his team-mates after picking up a thigh injury during the same game.