Brugge suffer Hoefkens blow

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 by PA

Club Brugge head into Thursday's Europa League Group J match with Partizan Belgrade reeling from the news defender Carl Hoefkens is set to be sidelined for six weeks.

The former West Brom defender has suffered a partial tear of his right knee ligaments and now looks set to miss the rest of his side's group-stage matches.

Hoefkens suffered the injury against Sint-Truidense VV at the weekend and underwent tests which confirmed he will be out for at least a month.

"It's a bad moment to get injured as some important matches await us," said Hoefkens.

As well as the trip to Belgrade, the Jupiler League leaders face a huge domestic clash with Standard Liege on the road next weekend and still have Europa League matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Toulouse to come.

Adrie Koster's side are currently second in Group J, level on four points with Toulouse after Ivan Perisic's brace helped them to a 2-0 home win against Partizan last time out.

Partizan, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a point after three defeats in as many games. Only in their opening match, a 3-2 defeat at home to Toulouse, did they show anything of note and defeat tomorrow will rubber-stamp the Serbian champions' capitulation in Europe this season.

However, they can take some heart from Brugge's away form, with the Belgians having failed to win in their last six away games in Europe.

Jeroen Simaeys returns for Koster's side alongside Thibaut Van Acker.

However, Venezuelan Ronald Vargas joins Hoefkens in the treatment room after he suffered a recurrence of a recent injury.

Van Acker, though, is flying high after penning his first contract at the age of 17.

The teenage rookie told his club's website: "Of course I hope in the coming period for opportunities to play, but I first I need to consolidate my learning process as a footballer.

"In the short time I have been with the team I have realised I have a long way to go but I can't deny it, this gives me a very good feeling."

Partizan hope midfielder Lamine Diarra and defender Ljubomir Fejsa will prove their fitness ahead of the match.