Ukraine goalkeeper Andrei Dykan looks likely to be ruled out of the Euro 2012 tournament after sustaining facial injuries in his club Spartak Moscow's weekend fixture against Zenit St Petersburg.
The 34-year-old, who has been capped eight times for Ukraine, was substituted in the 66th minute of Saturday's Russian Premier League match, which Zenit won 2-1, shortly after a clash with forward Alexander Kerzhakov.
He was taken to hospital with severe concussion as well as fractures to his face and jaw.
His injury, just over two months before Euro 2012 kicks off in Poland and Ukraine, adds to the woes of Ukraine manager Oleg Blokhin after Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Alexander Rybka was handed a two-year ban for failing a dope test.
"The situation becomes precarious as Dykan is the second keeper we've lost just ahead of the European Championship," Blokhin told AFP.
"We still have experienced keepers Alexander Shovkovsky and Andrei Pyatov at our disposal but another loss may become fatal for our team."
The Ukrainian national team's doctor, Vyacheslav Popov, said Dykan had no chance of playing at the Euro as he may need up to six months to fully recover.
"I've not seen Dykan myself yet but the list of his injuries frightens me. I think he has no chance of playing at Euro 2012," Popov told the press.
"The injuries that Dykan has suffered are very serious for a goalkeeper. He will likely spend at least a month in hospital.
"Complete recovery after such a serious trauma may take up to six months."
Rybka, who won two caps in friendlies last year against Germany and Austria, was considered one of the main candidates for Ukraine's number one jersey during the championship.
However, he tested positive for a banned diuretic contained in a weight-loss product after a league match in November.
Donetsk have said they will appeal the ban, calling it disproportionate to the offence.
Source: AFP
