23.01.2018 12:04 h

World Cup in doubt for Dzhikia after knee surgery

Russian international Georgy Dzhikia will likely miss the World Cup despite undergoing successful surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

In a statement on Tuesday, his club Spartak Moscow said an approximate date for the full-back's recovery would be announced later.

The 24-year-old injured his left knee last Thursday during a friendly with Chinese high-flyers Shanghai SIPG in Dubai, where Russian champions Spartak have set up a training camp to prepare for the league's resumption after its winter break.

Such injuries often require around six months to recover from.

It's a headache for Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov with less than five months to go before the start of the World Cup, which the country will host.