Nekounam Sidelined For The Season

GOAL - Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam could be set to miss the majority of the new season after tests revealed that he has damaged ligament in his knee.

The 26-year-old Iranian international was playing in his first pre-season friendly for the Pamplona-based outfit when he sustained the knock.

Nekounam went down only four minutes after coming on as a substitute against Villarreal and underwent tests that have now shown the exact extent of his injury.

Club doctors have yet to put a precide time frame on his return, but they have confirmed that he has snapped the cruciate ligament in his right knee.

It is a terrible blow for the player that was given extra time off by Osasuna following his participation in the Asian Cup during the summer.

The defensive midfielder made 24 appearances for the Spanish league side and scored two goals after moving from Sharjah FC last year.

Osasuna were beaten 3-0 in the friendly by Osasuna, thanks to goals from Giuseppe Rossi, Marcos Senna and Jon Dahl Tomasson.