Valeron out for four months after second knee operation

MADRID, July 29 (Reuters) Deportivo Coruna's Spain international Juan Carlos Valeron will be out of action for four months after undergoing surgery on his left knee, the Primera Liga club today said.

The 31-year-old tore the cartilage and suffered a partial tear of the cruciate ligament in his knee during a friendly against Benfica yesterday.

Valeron had only been given the all clear to return to action two weeks ago after recovering from six months out with an injury to the same knee.

In January he needed an operation after tearing the cruciate ligament during Depor's 2-2 draw with Real Mallorca in the league.

Although the playmaker was dropped from Luis Aragones's Spain squad last year, he had been widely tipped to make a return in the run up to the World Cup finals in Germany.

He has won 46 caps and played in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

Reuters SKU RS2151