Feyenoord have been hit by the news that striker Pierre van Hooijdonk will be out for at least a month after a scan revealed he had suffered a hairline fracture if the ankle.

Van Hooijdonk will miss vital UEFA Champions League games against Dynamo Kyiv, Juventus and Newcastle United.

The problem, which occurred during the recent league match with Ajax, did not show up on an initial x-ray and was diagnosed later as a hairline fracture of the right ankle.

But he now faces a month out and is expected to miss Feyenoord’s threeremaining matches Chammoions League matches and several Eredivisie games.