Source: Daily_Mail
Lampard tries placenta cure: Chelsea star in bid to be fit for Arsenal clash
Frank Lampard joined the list of Barclays Premier League players who have flown to Belgrade to seek help from Serb housewife Mariana Kovacevic.[LNB] The Chelsea star injured his left thigh training with England in Doha 10 days ago and feared he would be out for a month. It seems his visit to Belgrade is a desperate attempt to speed up the healing process to allow him to play against Arsenal tomorrow week.[LNB] Desperate move: Frank Lampard has tried controversial cure in abid to be fit to face Arsenal[LNB] Chelsea last night insisted Lampard, who was accompanied by club doctor Bryan English, will not be given Kovacevic's controversial placenta treatment but will instead have massage oil worked into his leg.[LNB] The trip came as a Belgrade doctor, who wished to stay anonymous, warned that treating muscle injuries with placenta could cause long-term damage.[LNB] He said: 'Using placenta can have an immediate affect and the player can feel fine, but it acts as a kind of masking agent. You cannot make these short cuts. Tell these players from Liverpool and Chelsea to come and see me when their problem comes back and I will treat them properly.'[LNB] [LNB]Treatment: Arsenal's Robin van Persie[LNB] The doctor also revealed the scale of placenta use in medicine in Serbia. While not accepted as standard medical practice, its use is not illegal and animal placenta, particularly horse, is most commonly used.[LNB] Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of Kovacevic yesterday. Under investigation by health officials, she has not been seen at her clinic for two days but it seems certain that she is continuing to treat Arsenal's Robin van Persie somewhere in Belgrade.[LNB] Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger expressed his reservations yesterdayabout Van Persie's trip. The Arsenal manager said: 'I'm not a fan ofthe treatment, but I respect individual freedom to be treated how theywant.[LNB] 'Van Persie said he wanted to go and said it's two days. I asked mymedical people if there was any danger. They said "No" and so I let himgo. I've never seen anybody with a muscle problem (be fit) short of 21days. I've never seen anyone go there there and five days later heplays.'[LNB] But Rafa Benitez is a convert. The Liverpool manager sent GlenJohnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera for treatmentthis week - and they could all be fit for today's match with ManchesterCity. [LNB] He said: 'I had no hesitation. Anyone in their right mind would send a player to her if it meant having him fit again in days, rather than weeks. I don't know exactly how she makes it work, but she does.' [LNB] Placenta doctor goes to ground after work on Arsenal star Robin van PersieFive follow Van Persie: Man City and Anfield stars fly out for placenta 'cure'Smiles better for injured Van Persie after Serbian housewife treatmentArsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson call for TV replays in wake of Thierry Henry's handballAndy Townsend's Boot Room: Boy wonder Robin van Persie will be a hard act to follow[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Glen Johnson, Rafa Benitez, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera, Bryan English, Robin van Persie, Frank LampardPlaces:Liverpool, United Kingdom
