Van Nistelrooy to miss rest of season

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY is set to miss the rest of the Primera Liga season due to a knee injury, Real Madrid confirmed yesterday.

Van Nistelrooy travelled to the United States this week to see specialist Dr Richard Steadman about his injured right knee and, after undergoing an exploratory arthroscopic operation to determine the extent of the problem, it has been decided the Dutchman will now need surgery.

The knee is the same one that Steadman operated on in 2000 when Van Nistelrooy suffered ligament damage while at PSV Eindhoven.

Van Nistelrooy had been hoping the problem would only keep him sidelined for a couple of months, but yesterday’s confirmation he will need surgery means he will now almost certainly miss the remainder of the season.