Vieri: Thigh strain
Atalanta striker Christian Vieri looks set to miss the start of the season with a thigh strain.
The former Italy international is expected to be sidelined for up to 45 days after picking up the knock in a friendly on Sunday.
Scans have proven that the injury is worse than first feared and he will be unavailable until the middle of September.
The strain is a recurrence of a problem he endured towards the end of last season during his time at Fiorentina.
The new Serie A season is due to get underway on 31st August, with Atalanta looking to build on an impressive 2007/08 campaign which saw them finish ninth in the Italian top flight.
Vieri is currently in his third spell at Atalanta and will be hoping to rediscover the form which has made him one of the world’s most expensive footballers.
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