Test have confirmed that Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o has torn
the meniscus in his right knee and will be sidelined for up to
three months.
The Cameroon striker sustained the injury in Barca's 1-1 UEFA
Champions League draw with Werder Bremen on Wednesday night.
He was stretchered off just past the hour mark having collapsed
following a sharp change of direction.
Barca were hoping he had merely strained ligaments, but subsequent
tests have revealed the full extent of the injury and the
25-year-old will now undergo exploratory surgery to correct the
problem on Thursday afternoon.
"The club's medical services carried out a scan on Eto'o's knee
this morning and confirm that he has torn the meniscus in his right
knee," read a statement on Barca's official website.
Eto'o looks likely to be out of action for between two and three
months, meaning he will almost certainly miss the remainder of
Champions League group stages as well as several league
games.
The news will come as a hammer blow for the Catalans for whom the
African has bagged over fifty goals since his switch from Mallorca
in the summer of 2004.