BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Fenerbahce have been dealt a hammer blow ahead of their Europa League clash against Celtic after star winger Lazar Markovic was ruled out through injury.
Markovic, Liverpool’s £20 million signing from Benfica, joined the Turkish side on loan last month and has proved an immediate hit, impressing supporters with his blistering pace and direct running.
The 21-year-old’s first-half performance was one of the few positives for Fener as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat against fierce Istanbul rivals Besiktas on Sunday night.
One particularly spectacular run saw him dubbed “Usain Bolt” by one national newspaper in Turkey.
However, Markovic’s evening was cut short when injury forced him off after just 35 minutes to be replaced by Volkan Sen.
Tests this week have shown that Markovic has suffered a damaged back muscle and will miss around three weeks of action, meaning he will not travel for tomorrow night’s clash at Parkhead.
