Spartak Moscow midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has fractured a metatarsal bone and will be out for several weeks, a spokesman told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
The foot injury rules the 27-year-old out of Saturday's crucial Russian Premier League match against leaders Zenit St. Petersburg, perhaps Spartak's last chance to remain in the title race. They are in fourth, nine points off the lead with eight matches left.
But the former Everton man will be available for Russia’s Euro 2012 squad and may return to the Spartak team before the season ends May 13, the spokesman added.
“He should return before the end of the season,” the spokesman said, adding that he wished to remain anonymous in line with club policy. “With this injury he won’t miss the European Championships.”
The spokesman stressed that Bilyaletdinov’s second metatarsal was only partially fractured.
In an earlier statement, the club suggested the injury was linked to a heavy tackle in Spartak’s 2-1 derby defeat to CSKA Moscow earlier this month.
Bilyaletdinov missed a day’s training following the game, but then rejoined the squad and played in Spartak’s next game before a scan Wednesday revealed the fracture, the club said.
The midfielder joined Spartak from English Premier League side Everton in January, and has since played four league games for the Russian club.
He has scored six goals in 46 appearances for the Russian national team, and played in every game during Russia’s charge to the semifinals of Euro 2008.
