Adelaide United goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame has been ruled out for the entire 2008/09 Hyundai A-League season due to a recurring knee injury.
Adelaide United goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame has been ruled out for the entire 2008/09 Hyundai A-League season due to a recurring knee injury.
The club confirmed that Beltrame has been placed on the long-term injury list after suffering a significant lateral meniscus tear of the left knee, which will keep him out of action until March 2009.
Beltrame had an arthroscope on the troublesome knee in May and was hopeful of playing in the upcoming season, but this latest setback dashed any hopes he had.
“The knee has been struggling, it has been swelling up constantly and I haven’t been able to train properly for 10-12 weeks so it’s no good,” Beltrame said.
“I had an arthroscope to try and clear the damage but the knee just hasn’t come up right.”
“It’s very, very disappointing. I’m gutted, it’s not a good thing that before the season starts you find out you’re not going to be part of it, but in the end you just have to move on and get on with it.”
“I will keep training and working hard with my rehabilitation because I am still contracted to the club and hopefully I can recover and get through this.”
The 32-year-old keeper has made 41 appearances between the posts for the Reds and still has a year to run on his contract.
With Beltrame ruled out for the season, 17-year-old Mark Birighitti will be Adelaide’s second keeper behind Eugene Galekovic.
