Raul suffers complex knee injury

Real Madrid captain Raul has suffered a complex knee injury that will require specialist treatment and is likely to be sidelined for around two months.

A scan carried out at the Ruber International hospital showed the 28-year-old striker had suffered a partial tear of the cruciate ligament in his left knee and also damaged the cartilage, the Primera Liga club said on Monday.

Real said the complexity of the injury meant that the player would have to undergo further tests and be examined by specialists in order to decide on the appropriate treatment and ascertain the likely recovery time.

Spanish media said the player would be out for around two months even if surgery was not necessary, but that the recovery period would be extended to double that time if medical advisers decided an operation was required.