Nürnberg suffer Vittek setback

The 1. FC Nürnberg coach Hans Meyer described the loss of Róbert Vittek as a "heavy blow" after it emerged that the Slovakia striker will be sidelined for several months following knee surgery.

Cartilage damage
The 25-year-old underwent the operation after complaining of knee pain following his side's 1-1 Bundesliga draw at FC Energie Cottbus last Saturday, with the procedure revealing cartilage and meniscus damage that will keep Vittek out until 2008. A club statement read: "The result of the surgery is that the Slovakian international will be sidelined for some time. It is unlikely that he will return during the first half of the season."

'Heavy blow'
"It will be difficult to replace Róbert," said Meyer of the man who has scored 34 goals in 109 Bundesliga appearances for Nürnberg. "It is a heavy blow for us." Sporting director Martin Baader added: "Róbert just has to get better and take all the time he needs. The important thing is for him to get fit again – there won't be any pressure from us." Vittek misses Nürnberg's UEFA Cup first round tie against AFC Rapid Bucureşti on 20 September and 4 October.

Slovakia setback
The news is also a setback for Slovakia, for whom Vittek has managed 15 goals in 48 matches. The former ŠK Slovan Bratislava forward will sit out the remainder of his country's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers – at home to the Republic of Ireland and Wales this week, home and away against San Marino on 13 October and 21 November, and in the Czech Republic on 17 November. Slovakia lie fourth in Group D, ten points behind leaders Germany.