Season over for Mellor
Thursday, 3 March 2005
Liverpool FC striker Neil Mellor will not play again this season after
undergoing double knee surgery today.

Forward woe
The 22-year-old has been suffering with tendinitis in both knees, and an
operation is the only way to cure the problem. Mellor will join fellow
forwards Djibril Cissé (broken leg) and Florent Sinama-Pongolle (knee) on
the long-term casualty list at Anfield. Midfield player Xabi Alonso and
goalkeeper Chris Kirkland are also unlikely to figure again in the current
campaign with ankle and back injuries respectively.

Goalscoring success
Mellor only broke into the first-team picture at Liverpool this season,
scoring five goals in 16 games. His strikes have included a last-minute
winner in a 2-1 Premiership victory against Arsenal FC in November and a
crucial goal the following month in the 3-1 win against UEFA Champions League
group stage rivals Olympiacos CFP.

Striking absences
Mellor's absence means Liverpool go into next week's Champions League first
knockout round return at Bayer 04 Leverkusen with only one recognised striker
in Milan Baro?, as Fernando Morientes is cup-tied. The Premiership side have
a 3-1 advantage from the first leg.

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