Yakin injury blow to Switzerland

SWISS national team manager Kobi Kuhn was coming to terms yesterday with the loss of injured playmaker Hakan Yakin for the vital Euro 2004 qualifying tie against Russia next month. He may also miss the crunch match with Ireland in October.

“This news comes at the worst possible time,” said Kuhn. “We always say that no player is irreplaceable, but Hakan is a case apart.”

The 26-year-old, who scored against Ireland in Dublin last year, is expected to undergo a hernia operation in Zurich today.

The player found himself at the centre of a bizarre medical battle between his club doctor at Paris Saint Germain and a prominent Swiss sports physician, who believes immediate surgery is required, followed by four-six weeks rest.

The PSG medical team disagrees, saying its tests show nothing more serious than tendonitis.

But Yakin, yet to play for the French club following his €1.5m transfer from FC Basel, has complete faith in Dr Heinz Buhlmann, the Swiss sports’ specialist whose patients include tennis star Martina Hingis.