Pazzini injury blow for Viola

Fiorentina's Giampaolo Pazzini has been ruled out for at least two months through injury.

The former Atalanta hit-man was forced to leave the field after just 28 minutes of Italy's Under-21 international against Iceland at the weekend, because of a muscle strain in his right leg.

Scans have now revealed a muscular lesion and tendon damage and club medics have predicted that he will be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks.

The 22-year-old scored five Serie A goals for Fiorentina last term, as he and Valeri Bojinov competed for a starting place partnering World Cup winner Luca Toni up front.

But he will now miss the start of the new season at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, along with Serbian goalkeeper Vlada Avramov, who has been loaned to Treviso.