Defensive worries as Vermaelen, Emanuelson sustain injuries
08 February: Ajax head-coach Henk ten
Cate faces problems with the two UEFA Cup
confrontations with Werder Bremen coming up, as two of his
defenders picked up knee injuries. Urby Emanuelson got a
knock on his left knee in the 04 February 'Classic' against
Feyenoord and will be out for up to three weeks. Three
days later Thomas Vermaelen sustained an injury of
his right knee in Belgium's international friendly
against the Czech Republic in Brussels. He will be out for up
to six weeks.
Both left-footers are sure to miss both of Ajax's UEFA Cup
fixtures against Werder Bremen. Emanuelson will also miss the
Eredivisie matches against ADO Den Haag (11 February),
Excelsior (18 February) and AZ (25 February). On top of those
fixtures, Thomas Vermaelen will also miss the KNVB Cup quarter
final at Willem II (28 February) and the Eredivisie games
against Heerenveen (04 March), FC Twente (11 March) and - quite
possibly - PSV (18 March).
For next week's away leg against Werder Bremen, in
particular, Henk ten Cate will have to working
with a seriously battered squad. A third defender, Zdenek
Grygera, is still recovering from a persistent (muscular)
injury as well. The Czech is sure to miss 'Werder away', but
might be fit for the return leg in Amsterdam. In Bremen, Ajax
will also be without Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (suspended due to
accumulated yellow cards), whereas Edgar Davids is not
eligible in UEFA competition after having seen 'European'
action for his previous club, Tottenham Hotspur, in the current
campaign.
In spite of these worries, Zdenek Grygera told the UEFA.com
that he is optimistic. "Unfortunately, I'll miss the first leg
due to a muscular injury," said the defender, who
reportedly
visited Turin this week for his medical at his new
employers, Juventus. "I should start training next week and
hope I'll be ready for the second leg at home, so I can help
Ajax go through. I'd say Bremen are slight favourites for the
tie, but we're coming into some good form. Although we failed
to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup knockout
stage is exciting and the games against Bremen will be our most
important in cup competition this season."
Meanwhile, there is some good news from the 'injury front'
as well: midfielder Roger has recovered from his persistent
muscular injuries and is available for Sunday's Eredivisie
road game against ADO Den Haag. (MP)
Sources: Ajax.nl, UEFA.com
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