Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Andrei Dikan is getting ready to return to training, less than three weeks after sustaining severe facial injuries in a Russian Premier League game, Spartak said Monday.
Zenit St. Petersburg striker Alexander Kerzhakov’s knee hit Dikan’s face during Zenit’s 2-1 win over Spartak on March 31, leaving the goalkeeper with a broken cheekbone, a broken and dislocated jaw and concussion.
Dikan’s stitches are likely to be removed Wednesday, before he resumes light training in a special mask, the club said.
“Yesterday evening the goalkeeper Andrei Dikan returned to Moscow from Germany after being operated on,” Spartak said in a website statement.
“In the coming days, a plan of individual training will be agreed for the goalkeeper. A goalkeeping mask has already been made especially for Andrei.”
Russian footballing authorities confirmed last week that Kerzhakov would not be punished over the incident, and Dikan has reportedly said he bears no malice against the Zenit striker.
While Dikan returned from Germany, Spartak defender and captain Sergei Parshivlyuk flew to the country Monday to be treated for a knee injury, the club said.
Parshivlyuk has not played since Spartak’s 3-1 win over Dynamo Moscow on March 25, when he played the whole game.
