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Luirink could miss AZ campaign

AZ Alkmaar may have lost the highly-rated defender Gijs Luirink for the entire 2007/08 season after he tore a cruciate ligament in his left knee.

AZ Alkmaar may have lost the highly-rated defender Gijs Luirink for the entire 2007/08 season after he tore a cruciate ligament in his left knee during training.

Surgery needed
The 23-year-old, who was part of the victorious Netherlands squad at the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, has already been treated in hospital. He will return for surgery on his left leg after a rest period. Luirink only joined Alkmaar a year ago from FC Groningen and played 16 league games, scoring one goal. He also made six appearances in the UEFA Cup.

Ins and outs
Alkmaar do not expect Luirink to play again this calendar year, confirming on their website that he "will be out for up to six to nine months". The FC Volendam product also missed virtually all the 2004/05 season, his first at Groningen, because of a similar injury. Meanwhile, Alkmaar have handed a new contract until 2012 to 28-year-old defender Kew Jaliens. This summer, Alkmaar have lost striker Shota Arveladze to Levante UD but signed 20-year-old defender Milano Koenders from RKC Waalwijk and 21-year-old Brazilian forward Ari from Kalmar FF in Sweden.

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