Team of The Week

FORMATION : 4-4-2
GK : David James - Portsmouth
RB : Ledley King -Totenham
CB : Christopher Samba - blackburn
CB : Michael Dawson - Tottenham
LB : Gareth Bale - Tottenham

RM: Michael Brown - Porsmouth
CM: Luis Nani - Man. United
CM: Morten Gamst Pedersen - Blackburn
LM: Will Atkinson - Hull
ST : Craig Bellamy - man. City
ST : Nicolas Anelka - Chelsea


Friday, August 21, 2009

Johnson out for two months

Fulham striker Andrew Johnson will be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a dislocated collarbone.

Manager Roy Hodgson was furious after Amkar Perm defender Dmitry Belorukov executed a cynical body-check that left Johnson sprawled on the pitch in the second half of Thursday's 3-1 Europa League play-off victory.

"It was a good win against a difficult team but the game has been marred by the unbelievably blatant challenge on Andy Johnson," said Hodgson.

"It has dislocated his collarbone and put him out for a long time.

"In these times when referees are supposed to be clamping down on challenges, you get a challenge like that which goes punished with a yellow card and we lose a player for eight weeks.

"I don't think there's any doubt the defender should have been sent off.

"If you commit blatant fouls that not only stop someone from going one on one with the keeper, but also put them in hospital, there's a good chance you'll get a red card."

Fulham host Chelsea in Sunday's west London derby before embarking on the second leg against Amkar next Thursday and Hodgson said losing Johnson is a bitter blow.

The former Everton striker scored the first after just three minutes and linked superbly with Bobby Zamora, who set him up before firing his own way onto the scoresheet.

"The best part of our game by a long stretch was the ability of our front two to cause them so many problems," said Hodgson.

"They both scored and Bobby set up Andy's goal but now that partnership is broken up for the foreseeable future.

"We're looking to sign another front player so we'll consider bringing someone in, but that's not because Andy is injured but because we needed another front player anyway."

New signing Damien Duff, who arrived from Newcastle United on Tuesday, made his debut with 15 minutes to go and had an immediate impact as he helped set-up Zamora's goal.

"Damien is a quality player. He needs a bit of time to come to terms with everything we do as a team but his start couldn't have been better," said Hodgson.

"I'm sure the fans are happy with the signing and will be even happier now they have seen him."

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