Knocked knees weaken Ajax
Friday, February 9, 2007
Article summary
Defenders Urby Emanuelson and Thomas Vermaelen will miss both legs of AFC Ajax's UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against Werder Bremen after sustaining knee injuries.
Article body
Knee injuries
Emanuelson, 20, injured his left knee during the Eredivisie win against Feyenoord last weekend and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks. The 21-year-old Vermaelen damaged his right knee in Belgium's 2-0 friendly defeat by the Czech Republic on Wednesday and faces six weeks out.
Grygera out
Grygera, meanwhile, has ruled himself out of Wednesday's first leg at the Weserstadion, but hopes to be back in time to help Ajax advance to the last 16. "Unfortunately, I'll miss the first leg due to a muscular injury," the 26-year-old told uefa.com. "I should start training next week and hope I'll be ready for the second leg at home, so I can help Ajax go through. I'd say Bremen are slight favourites for the tie, but we're coming into some good form. Although we failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup knockout stage is exciting and the games against Bremen will be our most important in cup competition this season."
