ZENDEN INJURY SHOCKER

BARCELONA have been dealt a serious blow as Boudewijn Zenden`s injury sustained in the Champions League match against Porto will rule him out for the next six weeks.

The speedy left-winger damaged his right-leg when he fell awkwardly in a challenge. The loss of Zenden will provide Barca boss Louis van Gaal with an interesting dilemma, as it would seem that Rivaldo will have to go back to playing on the left wing.

Unless van Gaal calls up a replacement, it will be interesting to see if Rivaldo will return to his unfavoured position on the wing for the good of the team, or insist on playing upfront.

Zenden will now miss the second half of the second phase of the Champions League and will find his Dutch international place under threat as he will not be a part of Frank Rijkaard`s preparations for Euro 2000.

Jeffrey Glorie