Domanic Matteo Missed a month of football
By Sean Saranczuk
February 11 2003
Dominic Matteo faces at least another month on the sidelines at Leeds after receiving confirmation he has torn a hamstring.
By Sean Saranczuk
February 11 2003
Dominic Matteo faces at least another month on the sidelines at Leeds after receiving confirmation he has torn a hamstring.
A scan has revealed the extent of the injury to the centre-back who last week announced his retirement from international football with Scotland due to a persistent knee problem.
It was the knee injury which required an operation in early October and led to the 28-year-old spending three months out of action before his return five weeks ago.
Matteo sustained the hamstring injury towards the end of Saturday's 1-0 victory over West Ham, and can now expect to be out for four to six weeks.
"I was determined to play because the knee felt better than it has done for a while, but then to get the hamstring injury just about sums it up for me," said Matteo.
"I just turned to chase the ball and as I did I stopped because I felt my hamstring go a bit. It didn't feel good at all."
Matteo's absence adds to the defensive worries of manager Terry Venables.
With Lucas Radebe struggling with his own continuing knee injury and unable to return to training until after this Wednesday, Venables already faces a selection headache as to his centre-back pairing for Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Crystal Palace.
Venables is also certain to be without Eirik Bakke, who has played in an emergency striker role in the last two matches, but was stretchered off in injury time on Saturday with apparent ankle ligament damage.
Due to the swelling, Bakke will not undergo a scan until later this week.
It was the knee injury which required an operation in early October and led to the 28-year-old spending three months out of action before his return five weeks ago.
Matteo sustained the hamstring injury towards the end of Saturday's 1-0 victory over West Ham, and can now expect to be out for four to six weeks.
"I was determined to play because the knee felt better than it has done for a while, but then to get the hamstring injury just about sums it up for me," said Matteo.
"I just turned to chase the ball and as I did I stopped because I felt my hamstring go a bit. It didn't feel good at all."
Matteo's absence adds to the defensive worries of manager Terry Venables.
With Lucas Radebe struggling with his own continuing knee injury and unable to return to training until after this Wednesday, Venables already faces a selection headache as to his centre-back pairing for Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Crystal Palace.
Venables is also certain to be without Eirik Bakke, who has played in an emergency striker role in the last two matches, but was stretchered off in injury time on Saturday with apparent ankle ligament damage.
Due to the swelling, Bakke will not undergo a scan until later this week.
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