New injury blow for Boksic

SS Lazio striker Alen Boksic is facing a struggle to save his season after the failure of a knee operation.

The 29 year old Croatian had the operation before the recent World Cup in France. He missed the entire tournament but it was thought that the problem had been cured. After recent pain in his joints though Boksic faces an exploratory operation to find out what went wrong with his earlier treatment. He is due to have the Arthescopic operation next week but it is another blow to Lazio's troubled start to the season.

They face the Rome derby against in-form AS Roma on Sunday - one of the biggest club matches on earth - knowing that owner Sergio Cragnotti is close to losing patience with is expensive underachievers. They are well back in the Serie A race after spending £72 million during the summer. The club are remaining very secretive about the chances of major signing Christian Vieri playing in the derby game. Boksic is certainly not an option for coach Sven Goran Erikkson but it is thought that Vieri may return to the bench.