Napoli’s Lucarelli suffers knee injury

Napoli forward Cristiano Lucarelli is expected to be sidelined until next year with a left knee injury.

The veteran striker had to be stretchered off during Napoli’s Europa League group match against Utrecht on Thursday night, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Lucarelli underwent a series of tests yesterday morning, which revealed he has torn the cruciate ligaments of his left knee.

He will see a specialist at the start of next week, but the initial prognosis is that he will be out for between four and six months.

The 34-year-old, who joined Napoli on a season-long loan deal from Parma this summer, will undergo surgery on Monday.

The former Livorno talisman is expected to receive treatment at a famous clinic in Rome run by the well respected Professor Mariani.

A statement from the club read: “Cristiano Lucarelli underwent an MRI today which showed cruciate ligament damage in his left knee. Lucarelli will have arthroscopic surgery on Monday.”