Nunez facing knee surgery - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 23 Sept 2004
Nunez facing knee surgery
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

ANTONIO Nunez today underwent further knee surgery, wrecking his chances of
an imminent Liverpool debut.

The Spanish midfielder is enduring an Anfield nightmare. His comeback now
depends on the outcome of an exploratory operation on the same injury which
has kept him out since the start of the season.

Nunez was originally pencilled in for his Reds bow in a reserve game
against Birmingham tonight.

But instead of stepping up his rehabilitation on his return to training a
week ago, the midfielder continued to feel pain in his knee.

It was hoped the problem would settle down, but it got worse.

Medical staff have now decided he needs keyhole surgery to establish the
seriousness of the problem. That operation was scheduled for this afternoon.

It's unclear for how long the 25-year-old must now sit on the sidelines.

A fuller diagnosis will be made tomorrow, but the player will be fearing
the worst having originally ruled out serious ligament damage.

Nunez has been out six weeks after suffering the knock an hour into his
first training session after signing from Real Madrid. He joined Liverpool
as part of the deal which took Michael Owen to the Bernabau.

Manager Rafa Benitez will be frustrated by the blow, especially as his
options have been limited by the loss of Steven Gerrard. Nunez would have
been in line for instant call-up had he proved his fitness.

A Liverpool spokesman said today: "It's desperately disappointing for
Antonio and the club. He will undergo keyhole surgery today and we will
know more later."

Chris Kirkland and Florent Sinama-Pongolle will play in tonight's reserve game.