Fenerbahçe SK midfielder Raul Meireles will miss both of his side’s UEFA Europa League fixtures against AEL Limassol FC after suffering a thigh injury on international duty.
The 29-year-old picked up the problem during Portugal’s 1-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying loss in Russia on Friday and is out for a month. That means Meireles will not travel to Cyprus on 25 October or play in the home return a fortnight later as Fenerbahçe look to maintain their good start in Group C, where they have taken four points from two games.
Available against AEL next week will be right-back Gökhan Gönül, who left the Turkey squad on Sunday with a thigh problem but is fit to play against Bursaspor this weekend. Mehmet Topal (calf) and Joseph Yobo (knee) may not be risked on Saturday but Fenerbahçe hope to have them fit at AEL.