Cruciate injury ko’s Pires for six months

VILLARREAL midfielder Robert Pires will be sidelined for around six months after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The 32-year-old Frenchman, who moved to the Spanish side from Arsenal this summer on a two-year deal, suffered the injury during a pre-season game against Cadiz on Friday.

Villarreal president Fernando Roig revealed Pires had sustained the same problem as Argentina centre-back teammate Gonzalo Rodriguez.