To skip Antalya qualifier

Luke Dimech will be missing out on Malta's remaining Group One EURO 2004 qualifier next week in Antalya, Turkey, against Israel after a scan revealed he has a torn cartilage in his right knee. Dimech, who is bound with a contract until the end of this...

Luke Dimech will be missing out on Malta's remaining Group One EURO 2004 qualifier next week in Antalya, Turkey, against Israel after a scan revealed he has a torn cartilage in his right knee.

Dimech, who is bound with a contract until the end of this week with English Division Three club Mansfield, yesterday travelled up north to Manchester where he was expected to undergo surgery. Recovery will take him between two to three weeks.

The former Sliema and Birkirkara midfielder hurt his knee during last month's friendly international between Malta and Luxembourg which finished one-all.

The injury was an untimely setback for Dimech, 26, as he was seeking to earn a long-term contract at Mansfield after his experience in Ireland with Shamrock Rovers last season.

Chances of playing for the Midlands club still look good though as Dimech had an outstanding pre-season and also scored a league goal against Leyton Orient in one of the few competitive matches he played before the Luxembourg mishap. Mansfield were beaten 4-1 away to Swansea last weekend.

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