Eto'o facing five months out

Barcelona look set to be without Samuel Eto’o for five months after the striker underwent knee surgery today.

It had initially been thought that the Cameroon international would be sidelined for around three months after rupturing the meniscus in his right knee during last night’s Champions League match with Werder Bremen.

But it was confirmed tonight that Eto’o, who suffered a similar injury in the same knee earlier in his career will be out until well into 2007.

The reason Eto’o, 25, is out for longer than expected is because it was decided to sew up the damaged meniscus, as opposed to removing it which is the normal procedure for this type of injury.

Dr Ramon Cugat, who was in charge of the operation on Eto’o alongside Barcelona doctor Richard Pruna, told Marca: “Eto’o will spend the next few days recovering at the Clinica del Pilar in Barcelona, where he underwent surgery, before spending four weeks with the knee immobilised. He will then be able to start his rehabilitation.”

Dr Cugat believes Eto’o will make a full recovery.

“He is a very young player and, the fact that he has been able to conserve the meniscus means that, when it recovers, the knee will be like new, as if he had never suffered the injury.”

Losing Eto’o for so long is a major blow for Barcelona as he is one of their most influential players.