2023-12-15 16:32:52
Soccer runner-up Sturm Graz will have to do without regular goalie Kjell Scherpen for a long time. As Sky reported on Friday and club spokesman Stefan Haller confirmed to the APA, the Dutchman had already torn a cruciate ligament in his left knee during training in the summer and will therefore undergo surgery in London next Tuesday. “He won’t play any more games for us this season,” Haller told APA.
The 23-year-old Scherpen played 27 competitive games for Sturm this season, the last of which was on Thursday in the 3-0 defeat in the Europa League at Sporting Lisbon. The 2.06 meter man was only missing the 2-0 home win against Austria Lustenau on November 25th due to illness.
The goalie was brought in on a one-year loan from Premier League club Brighton last summer. “We are currently finalizing discussions to extend the loan. The plan is to loan him out again for 2024/25,” said Haller. Scherpen will also complete the majority of his rehabilitation in Graz.
Haller emphasized that the decision for Scherpen to continue playing for months despite the serious injury was made in consultation with the player, the treating doctors and Brighton. “He really wanted to help the team and was able to play without any problems. He could have played next year too, but the operation is being carried out to protect him for the future and not to endanger a long-term career,” explained Haller.
Because of Scherpen’s loss, Sturm will look at the transfer market during the winter break – the plan is to loan a goalkeeper until the end of the season. “We will look for a solution for six months,” announced Haller.
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