A top Strasbourg specialist believes Robert Pires' knee injury will definitely keep him out of this summer's World Cup. After examining the Arsenal star, Professor Jean-Henri Jaeger said there is no hope the cruciate ligament injury will have cleared up by June.
The news contradicts French team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret's opinion that the midfielder still has an outside chance of playing in Japan and South Korea. Ferret said provided the knee wasn't operated on, Pires might still be able to participate for the defending world champions. But Jaeger says there is virtually no chance the knee would be able to withstand the pressures of playing.
"I personally think there is no chance of recovery, simply because the cruciate ligament is not in the right place and it will be impossible for it to find some stability. I do not want to start a conflict of interests with Doctor Ferret, who is not a surgeon.
"If, for psychological reasons, some have decided to make Robert believe that a miracle is possible, then why not? I saw his despair when I told him the news on Monday morning. He must be really confused now," Jaeger told French newspaper L'Equipe.
Filed by Tom Grealis
