Medics fall out over Yakin

Paris St Germain’s new Swiss playmaker Hakan Yakin has picked up an injury that is set to sideline him for some time – but his own doctor disagrees with the verdict of PSG medics.

Swiss doctor Heinz Buhlman insists that Yakin, signed recently from Basle, is suffering from a hernia and needs an operation urgently.

Hakin, who has not yet played with the Parisian club since joining three weeks ago, was on Tuesday diagnosed by PSG’s medical staff with a groin injury.

The player flew to his home country Switzerland at the weekend and saw Buhlman on Monday who claimed he had a hernia, which means he could be forced out for at least two months.

The Swiss doctor does not agree with PSG’s latest diagnosis and is adamant the midfielder needs to be operated on as fast as possible.

“I am an expert in football players’ injuries, I examined Yakin and I found a hernia on the left hand side,” Buhlman said.

“It is one centimetre wide and four centimetres long. To be 100% sure I performed an echography and I am sure about my diagnosis.

“This hernia is serious because he suffers from it not only during training but also when he coughs or sneezes.

“He also has tendonitis on his groin which causes even more pain. He has to be operated on otherwise the problems will never go away.

“There is no other therapy possible and it can only get worse because the hernia is going to grow.

“He cannot train or play but he wants to remain a professional football player.

“He is wasting time. Hakan Yakin is a very resistant player physically, he can easily run for 90 minutes but if he wants to keep these qualities he must be operated on.”

Buhlman, who was also tennis diva Martina Hingis’ doctor, insists he knows Yakin well as he was already his doctor when he was played with Basle.

“I have been following him for the past seven years,” he added in Le Parisien. “I saw him on Monday, his belly was sore.

“I am not saying that PSG are not serious but they only had him undergo an x-ray when for that type of problem it is necessary to have an echography. This is the only good method.”

Hakim Chalabi, PSG’s doctor, insisted in a press statement that he disagreed with Buhlmann’s diagnosis, saying: “PSG’s medical staff ruled out right from the start the diagnosis of a hernia.

“This has been confirmed by various medical examinations carried out in Paris.

“These examinations also confirmed his injury was not directly caused by the physical preparation carried out at PSG.

“The player however suffers from a tendon infection on his left groin and this should keep him out of action between four and six weeks.”

Yakin, who has Turkish ancestry, was brought to Paris from Basle to replace Ronaldinho, who has been sold to Barcelona, and signed a four-year contract with the Parisian giants, now coached by Vahid Halilhodzic.

PSG suffered a poor Ligue 1 start by only managing a goalless draw and a 1-0 defeat to minnows Bastia and Lille respectively.

They are travelling to newly-promoted outfit Metz on Saturday.