Schalke suffer Waldoch woe
Monday, November 10, 2003
Article summary
FC Schalke 04 fear captain Tomasz Waldoch could be ruled out until the new year with torn ankle ligaments.
Article body
FC Schalke 04 fear their captain, Tomasz Waldoch, could be ruled out until the new year after he tore ankle ligaments in yesterday's 3-1 defeat by Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Polish international
The 32-year-old Waldoch was in hospital for x-rays today which revealed the extent of the damage to his left ankle. The Polish international suffered the injury in the early stages of the Bundesliga loss at the BayArena and was replaced by Thomas Kläsener after 17 minutes.
Training programme
Following consultations with Schalke's medical staff it was decided not to send Waldoch for immediate surgery. Instead, the defender will undertake a special training programme over the next fortnight to see if he can avoid an operation. Schalke have not speculated as to how long Waldoch will be missing for, but reports in Germany suggest he will not return until after the winter break.
UEFA Cup tie
Waldoch must be a major doubt for the second leg of the UEFA Cup second-round tie against Brøndby IF on 27 November, after featuring in the 2-1 first-leg triumph.
