By AVI CREDITOR
Villarreal striker Nilmar is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after returning to Brazil to have surgery to fix a cartilage problem in his right knee.
It is unclear exactly how much time Nilmar, who has led all Villarreal scorers in La Liga play with 10 goals, will have to miss.
His injury opens up a starting slot aside Giuseppe Rossi and should, at the very least, allot more minutes up top for Jozy Altidore. The Yellow Submarine, currently third in La Liga, will have to try to hold on to that spot without the injured Nilmar and Marcos Senna (hamstring) for the foreseeable future.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
MONCHENGLADBACH SIGNS TWO
American midfielder Michael Bradley is set to have two new teammates after Borussia Monchengladbach signed 20-year-old defender Havard Nordtveit from Arsenal and 30-year-old defender Martin Stranzl from Spartak Moscow.
The players fill a glaring need for the German side, which is toiling in the cellar of the Bundesliga and has allowed the most goals in the league. Monchengladbach has conceded 47 times in 17 games. The teams that come closest to reaching that futility are Werder Bremen and Stuttgart, who have each conceded 35 goals in the same amount of time.
AC MILAN SETS RONALDINHO PRICE
Adriano Galliani, vice president of AC Milan, has set Ronaldinho's price tag at €8 million (approximately $10.5 million) for teams that are inquiring about his services ahead of January's transfer window. Ronaldinho still has six months remaining on his contract with AC Milan, and teams could sign him on a free transfer in the summer.
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Chelsea found its way back into the win column after Florent Malouda's second-half goal gave the Blues a 1-0 victory over Stuart Holden's Bolton.
The temperature keeps rising on Roy Hodgson's hot seat at Liverpool after the Reds were shocked at Anfield by Wolves, 1-0.
Sebastien Squillaci played the role of villain for Arsenal after his late own goal let 10-man Wigan Athletic steal a point in a 2-2 draw at DW Stadium.
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Think Altidore will get more minutes in league play with Nilmar's injury? Do you see Monchengladbach tightening up its defense with its new signings and climbing out of the drop zone? Still thinking that Ronaldinho ends up in Los Angeles? How much longer do you see Hodgson keeping his job at Anfield?
Share your thoughts below.