Real lose Morientes to knee injury for two months

Real Madrid star Fernando Morientes is out for two months with a knee injury.

The striker was strained ligaments in his left knee last night in a 1-1 draw with SS Napoli in an Alicante friendly. Real then won a penalty competition 5-4.

Morientes was examined by doctors after the game and this morning Real have confirmed a long injury lay off for the forward who has seen his last two seasons disrupted by regular injury breaks.

Morientes was controversially dumped from the Euro 2000 squad last May by coach Jose Camacho who admitted last month that not taking the player had been a big mistake.

He was due to return to the national squad for the start of 20002 World Cup qualifiers next month. Spain play in Bosnia on September 2nd.

A magnetic resonance test this morning revealed a serious strain of muscles in the left knee and he will also miss the start of Real's Champions League campaign.

Real play UEFA Cup winners Galatasary on Friday night in Monaco in the European Super Cup.