Spanish midfielder ruled out of World cup

Deportivo La Coruña's 30 year old midfielder, Juan Carlos Valerón, will have an operation at Madrid's CEMTRO clinic on Friday morning after sustaining damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during last Sunday's match at the Riazor stadium against Mallorca.

The operation will be performed by Pedro Guillén, and the Canarian will remain at the clinic for a few days before embarking on a lengthy recovery period expected to last between six and eight months.

Valerón is therefore ruled out for the rest of the domestic season and the World Cup finals in Germany, and it is thought that Deportivo boss Joaquin Caparrós may seek to sign a replacement before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.