Cuper worried by Inter's growing injury list

Inter Milan's dressing-room resembled a casualty ward following their 0-0 Champions League draw here against Barcelona.

Mohammed Kallon, Domenico Morfeo and Stephan Dalmat were all crocked in Wednesday's stalemate at a sold-out San Siro.

Sierra Leone striker Kallon damaged his right Achilles tendon, while Morfeo and Frenchman Dalmat suffered thigh strains against the Spaniards.

The unfortunate trio join Hernan Crespo, Matias Almeyda, Okan Buruk and Emre Belozoglu on the treatment table.

A physical battle saw Inter end Barcelona's 100 percent record in Europe, but they failed to close the gap on the Group A leaders who still enjoy a three point lead over the Italian league leaders.

Barcelona, who beat the Italians 3-0 in Spain last week for a record 11th win in the competition, top the second phase group with 10 points, three more than Inter, and four ahead of third-placed Newcastle.

Inter coach Hector Cuper said he may be forced to field a reserve team for their crunch match at home to Newcastle on March 11.

"I am sad because there is nothing I can do about injuries," said the Argentinian.

"The game against Newcastle will be a real problem as I have only a few options left, especially in attack.

"I have to say that the injury situation is disastrous. We lost three players during the 90 minutes.

"We were effectively playing with 10 men for the final 90 minutes as Morfeo was limping due to a muscular problem."

Cuper said he was sorry to lose Dalmat who was starting to find his best form playing in a free role in midfield.

"It's a real shame for Dalmat as he was settling into his new position. I think he could be out of action for three weeks," Cuper added.

Asked if the bumpy San Siro turf had anything to do with the growing number of casualties, Cuper replied: "The pitch may well be to blame when Dalmat slipped, but Kallon and Morfeo were victims of late tackles."

Chances were few and far between against Barca, but the best fell to Inter striker Christian Vieri, who has failed to score in Europe since December 2001, despite netting 21 times in Serie A this season.

Vieri should have scored three minutes after half-time when he rose unmarked to meeet Giovanni Pasquale's left-wing cross, but the Italy international headed wide from just three yards out.

Inter president Massimo Moratti believes scoring in Europe has become a psychological problem for Italy's leading goalscorer.

"I'm sorry for Bobo (Vieri) - if the match had been a league game he would have put that chance away," he said.