Dudek blow for Liverpool

Liverpool’s Champions League final hero Jerzy Dudek has been ruled out for three months after dislocating his right elbow in training.

The accident happened today at the club’s Melwood training complex, and the player was initially treated at the ground and then taken to hospital.

The Poland goalkeeper will now be out of action until November, ruling out any prospect he might be sold before the transfer deadline.

Dudek has been replaced in the side by Spaniard Jose Reina – and Scott Carson also now seems to be ahead of him in the pecking order – but he has said he wants to stay at the club.

And despite interest from Sporting Lisbon, boss Rafael Benitez has so far been happy to keep the man whose penalty saves against AC Milan secured the European Cup in Istanbul in May.

He has not yet played in Liverpool’s Champions League qualifiers however, with Benitez still reluctant to cup-tie him in case a good offer comes in.

Yet any prospect of the player leaving Anfield will now have to wait until the January transfer window.

Benitez said: “The incident happened virtually in the last minutes of training.”

Dudek has two years left on his contract. Liverpool’s other senior goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has joined West Brom on loan for the season.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton said: “Jerzy has a fracture-dislocation of his elbow. He saw a specialist on Monday afternoon and will see another specialist on Tuesday for further investigation. He will be out of action for three months.”

Liverpool have also confirmed that full back Djimi Traore will be out for a month with a thigh muscle injury, while French youngster Carl Medjani has confirmed his season-long loan to Metz.