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Beltrame out of Changchun clash

16 May 2008 | 13:39 - SBS

Adelaide United keeper Daniel Beltrame (C) limps off after damaging his quad in Round 10 of the last A-League season (Getty)

Adelaide United keeper Daniel Beltrame will miss out on the Reds final Asian Champions League game against Changchun Yatai after undergoing minor knee surgery.

Beltrame underwent an arthroscope last Friday in order to fix an injury he suffered after twisting his left knee in training a fortnight ago.

"After it happened it just got worst from there and because there was such a big tear in it, the flaps kept getting caught in my joints which would shut down my quad so I couldn’t play," said Beltrame.

"I tore lateral cartilage and there is a loss of cartilage over the bone so I had to get that cleaned up. There was also a fair bit of rubbish floating around in the joints so they cleaned that up as well."

With the injury worse than first thought, Beltrame looks set for a rehabilitation period of between 6-8 weeks, with the keeper hopeful of being back in time for United's pre-season.

"The good thing is that there is only one AFC Champions League game to go and then we’re off for awhile so I will be able to recover and get back into full tilt for pre season," said Beltrame.

"Hopefully everything will settle down now and I can have a good 2008/09 season."

Although he has not yet played a role in Adelaide's 2008 Asian Champions League campaign, Beltrame was naturally disappointed, especially after he made a good recovery from a quad injury which kept him out of Adelaide's final 11 games of the last A-League season.

"After the first injury with my quad and then getting back on the bench and training hard and getting back to full fitness, for something like this to happen I think I must be jinxed," said Beltrame.

"It’s disappointing not being able to go to China because it is such a massive game for the club and it’s Richie’s (Alagich) last game. It would have been good to be over there and help the boys get the points that we need to reach the second round, but unfortunately I’ll be at home watching it on television."

Robert Bajic will take Beltramo's place as Adelaide's back-up keeper for the game in Changchun on Wednesday May 21 (AEST).

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