Spartak lose injured Romulo

SPARTAK Moscow, one of Celtic’s Champions League Group G opponents, have been dealt a blow with the news that midfielder Romulo will miss most of the season after injuring his knee.

The Russian Premier League club announced yesterday that the 22-year-old Brazil international, who joined Spartak on a four-year contract from Vasco da Gama in June, tore cruciate ligaments in his knee in Sunday’s 3-1 league victory at Rostov. Romulo will have surgery in Germany.

Spartak, who host Celtic next midweek, have several other key players out with injuries, including captain Sergei Parshivlyuk and leading striker Welliton.