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Ruud Van Nistelrooy 'faces ankle op'
AFP
Monday 10 November 2008
Real Madrid's talismanic Dutch
striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy could be sidelined for two
to three months if he undergoes surgery on an injured
ankle, according to reports.
Van Nistelrooy was the top scorer in the Spanish league
last season so any prolonged absence would prove a huge
setback for Real, whose limitations in attack have been
exposed of late.
The Madrid giants sit third in La Liga two points adrift
of on-form arch rivals Barcelona, but were resoundingly
beat 2-0 by Juventus in the Champions League in midweek.
Real have confirmed that Van Nistelrooy, who is out
of Saturday's league match against Malaga, is suffering
from the same external meniscus injury on his right
ankle which prompted him to go under the knife in 2000.
The club said the Dutchman is set to consult American
doctor Richard Steadman, who carried out that operation
eight years ago. According to Spanish sports dailies
AS and Marca Saturday, a second operation is imminent.
AS added that Real are already looking into the possibility
of signing VfB Stuttgart's German international striker
Mario Gomez, 23, as a replacement.
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