More injury woe for Rossi

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi will miss Italy’s Euro 2012 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament for a second time.

The 25-year-old forward had been nearing a return to competitive action after first injuring his right knee during his club’s Liga loss to Real Madrid in October 2011.

However, Villarreal have announced the player tore his ACL again during a training session on Friday.

Rossi now requires another operation to repair the damage to his knee and is expected to be out for a further six months.

The news will come as a major blow for Italy coach Cesare Prandelli, who had been hoping Rossi would make his comeback before the season’s end, and provide an extra striking option for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

The injury could also scupper the former Manchester United man’s hopes of a close-season transfer, with the player having been heavily linked with a return to Italy in recent months.