home      service centre   |   publications   |   football family   |   competitions   

Spain's Hierro avoids surgery but faces month out

© Reuters 2002

MADRID, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Spain captain Fernando Hierro will not require surgery on his dislocated shoulder, his club Real Madrid said on Monday.

But the 33-year-old defender could be out for as long as five weeks with the injury he suffered in Real's 1-1 draw against Malaga on Saturday.

"The shoulder is now where it should be and we prefer not to operate because there's no need," club doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez said on Real's website.

"The recovery time will be between three and four weeks, although it could take as long as 35 days, depending on how the injury progresses."

Hierro, who has been a fixture in the national team for more than a decade, will almost certainly miss Spain's next friendly international in preparation for the World Cup finals, against Portugal on February 13.

His target will be to return for Real's next Champions League match, at home to Porto on February 19.

Hierro sustained the injury after falling awkwardly following a challenge from Uruguayan midfielder Marcelo Romero in the last minute of the first half against Malaga.

Spain have been drawn in group B for the finals in South Korea and Japan, alongside South Africa, Paraguay and Slovenia.

Reports provided by

Monday, 28 January
Weah, Africa's greatest footballer, calls time on Liberia
Tasfaout rushed to hospital after swallowing tongue
Mpenzas hope to make World Cup a family affair
Slovenia's Pavlin to miss Hong Kong trip
Two teenage Croat players may go to World Cup
Dugarry hopes to be France's second striker at World Cup
Sunday, 27 January
Saudi Arabia beat Oman to keep Gulf Cup hopes alive
Senegal assistant coach handed one-match touchline ban
Saturday, 26 January
Two Cuban soccer players still missing in California
Ronaldo return put back three weeks
Qatar end Gulf Cup hopes of defending champions Kuwait
Kahn replaces Bierhoff as German captain
Morocco to continue selection policy despite tensions
Thomson backing Japan to cause World Cup stir
Friday, 25 January
Mboma strikes again as Cameroon steal lucky win
Egypt beat Tunisia in Nations Cup
War-ravaged D.R. Congo unites behind the Simbas
Portugal should be aiming for semis - Pauleta
Dutch captain de Boer satisfied with Euro 2004 draw
Advocaat to coach Dutch and stay at Rangers
World Cup main task for Euro 2004 hosts Portugal
Lemerre focussing on World Cup before Euro 2004
Eriksson World Cup dilemma over Leeds pair
France face easy qualifying route to Euro 2004 finals
Draw for 2004 European championship qualifying groups
Bordinggaard to become Denmark's assistant coach
Zidane sees Spain as potential Cup winners
Vieri on Cup alert already, says Di Biagio
Japan duo stuck in pre-World Cup slump
Thursday, 24 January
Saudi Arabia, Qatar battle to tough wins
England defender Brown starts World Cup race
England to learn from World Cup finals - Crozier
Fulham's Marlet eyes France World Cup squad
Midfielder Nanami doubtful for World Cup
U.S. to play Dutch in final World Cup warm-up
Dutch put Krol in temporary charge
Russia coach Romantsev skips championship draw again
Quinn tips Schwarz for Sweden recall
2002 World Cup will probably be my last - Okocha
Mboma leads Cameroon's Nations Cup charge
Portugal-based Jardel eyes World Cup place
El Salvador beat Guatemala, advance in Gold Cup
Wednesday, 23 January
Injury wrecks Dani's World Cup hopes
Scotland and Ireland set for joint Euro 2008 bid
Nigerian fans sure of victory over Mali
Congo's Nonda becomes fourth player to leave Nations Cup
Sliskovic unveiled as new Bosnia coach
Slovenia plans hit by injury to trio
Algeria's fit-again Belbey could play in Liberia match
Influenza strikes down Zambian players at Nations Cup
Ronaldo set to play for Brazil next month
Murphy sends timely reminder to England coach
Hosts Mali face Nigeria showdown in Nations Cup
Chilavert optimistic about Paraguay's chances
It's now or never for Portugal, says Hiddink
Ireland's Kennedy reassured over return to action
Nigeria coach Amodu under pressure
Tuesday, 22 January
Brazil and Poland pick bases in South Korea
Kuwait held to surprise 0-0 draw by 10-man Bahrain
Kuffour expelled by Ghana from Nations Cup
Kalou undeterred by grim past experience
Michel slams Tunisia players after false start
Euro 2004 draw to honour Portugal legend Eusebio
Eriksson warns England players to behave
In-form Jose Mari plays down World Cup talk
Argentina's Crespo sidelined for a month
Nigeria impress Swedish spies
Turkey should be careful of Costa Rica, says coach
Austria name Krankl as new national coach
Mexico beat Guatemala, reach Gold Cup last eight
U.S. beat Cuba to ease into Gold Cup last eight

  Copyright © 1994-2002 FIFA. All rights reserved.
  Copyright © 1994-2002 En-Linea, Inc. All rights reserved.