Nicola Pozzi [Empoli] - could be out for the season

[D-Kin]

He hit the woodwork as well.

[Aladino]

Nicola Pozzi becomes the first Serie A player to net four since May 1, 2005, when both Alberto Gilardino and Cristiano Lucarelli went goal crazy in Parma’s 6-4 win over Livorno. In all this has happened 83 times, but there have also been 12 five-goal hauls and two who got six – Silvio Piola and Omar Sivori.

Nice one Pozzi, keep it up. He certainly hasn't looked back after his hand decision...

[D-Kin]

Pozzi faces long lay-off Sunday 17 February, 2008

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Nicola Pozzi bagged a brace to conquer Naples this afternoon, but could be out for the season after snapping the cruciate ligament in his knee.

The Empoli striker was in the process of scoring his second goal in the 3-1 victory at the Stadio San Paolo when he fell awkwardly.

Taken off the field in a stretcher, the initial prognosis for Under-21 international Pozzi is far from positive.

“Pozzi has sustained a serious injury,” warned Coach Alberto Malesani. “It is a bitter blow on this otherwise happy day.

“The first impressions of the medical staff are that the cruciate ligament has been broken, but we hope that is not the case.

“We are so happy for the win and the performance, but very sad about this terrible injury.”

It was an ill-tempered match that saw Marcelo Zalayeta and Felice Piccolo sent off at half-time for a scuffle on their way down the players’ tunnel.

“I told the referee he made the right decision. Zalayeta elbowed Piccolo and he reacted, so it is only right that both should be dismissed.”

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[Aladino]

It is now known that he will miss the rest of the season.

The poor guy, last year he gave up his hand for calcio and now he has this. I hope he returns soon, he deserves it!

In Bocca al Lupo Pozzi

[D-Kin]

Season over for Pozzi Monday 18 February, 2008

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As feared, Empoli striker Nicola Pozzi will be out for the rest of the season after snapping the cruciate ligament in his knee yesterday.

One of the key men in Empoli’s bid to avoid the drop, Pozzi injured himself while completing his brace in a 3-1 win over Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo and will be out for at least six months.

Pozzi sustained a similar injury at the San Paolo when playing for Napoli back in 2004 and is now travelling to Belgium to undergo surgery with the same doctor.

“I wanted to help Empoli to survival, but unfortunately that’s the way it goes,” the deflated marksman said ruefully.

“It was a brief but intense season. It will be hard, but I will return like I did when I was at Napoli.

“I can’t wait to get back to work in Empoli so that I can be close to my teammates while they fight to stay up.”

It is an especially bitter blow for the 21-year-old who had looked likely to command a place in Pierluigi Casiraghi’s squad for the Olympics in Beijing this summer.

channel4.com - Football Italia