Zenit shorn of Bystrov for half a year
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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Vladimir Bystrov is expected to be out for six months with damaged cruciate ligaments in his left knee sustained in FC Zenit St Petersburg's Russian Cup tie against FC Anzhi Makhachkala.
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FC Zenit St Petersburg will be without Vladimir Bystrov for up to six months after the Russia midfielder damaged cruciate ligaments in his left knee.
The 27-year-old winger left the field on a stretcher during Zenit's 3-2 Russian Cup round of 16 victory at FC Anzhi Makhachkala on Tuesday. The former FC Spartak Moskva player, who is four games shy of a century of Premier-Liga appearances for Zenit, will undergo surgery on Friday.
Should the initial prognosis prove correct, Bystrov will not play again until September. He will also miss a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying double-header against Armenia, with the first game in Yerevan later this month and the return on 4 June.
Domestic champions Zenit, who meet PFC CSKA Moskva in the Russian Super Cup on Sunday, play FC Twente in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 on 10 and 17 March.
