Struggling FC Nurnberg will be without defender Javier Pinola until after the winter break.
Defender sidelined with fractured shin bone
Struggling Bundesliga outfit FC Nurnberg will be without defender Javier Pinola until after the winter break.
The left-sided Argentinian had only just returned to first-team duty following a knee operation.
However, he suffered a fracture to the shin bone during his team's 2-1 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and will need to undergo immediate surgery.
"He will be missing until Christmas at the very least," Nurnberg coach Hans Meyer told the German press on Friday.
The news comes as a bitter blow to the German Cup holders, who have only picked up five points in seven Bundesliga outings this season.
Galasek boost
Better news for the Franken, however, is that club captain Tomas Galasek has agreed an early contract extension.
The Czech international star has put pen-to-paper on a new one-year deal keeping him at the easycreditStadion until 2009.
