Torn muscle fiber sidelines Mahdavikia for Nuremberg match

IRNA -Eintracht Frankfurt defender Mehdi Mahdavikia will be out for Saturday's match at Bundesliga rivals FC Nuremberg because of torn muscle fiber, the official Eintracht website said on Thursday.

It quoted Frankfurt head coach Friedhelm Funkel as saying that the Iranian national football team skipper suffered the injury in practice.

"First he did not notice it and continued to train until the end.

Then he encountered slight problems and a doctor's examination revealed unfortunately that it is a torn muscle fiber," Funkel said.

Although Mahdavikia has been added to Frankfurt's injured list, the former HSV footballer was dropped off the starting formation during the last three matches because of previous woeful performances.

The ex-Pirouzi player has yet to fulfill Frankfurt's high expectations when they signed him to a three-year deal last summer.

Frankfurt presently ranked 7th with 15 points out of nine games.