Failure in Bergamo

Bad post for Sturm ahead of the premier class

Max Johnston will be out for weeks with a muscle injury.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Ouch! That's bitter: Sturm will be without Max Johnston for tomorrow's Champions League clash against Atalanta Bergamo. The 21-year-old Scot suffered a muscle injury during the training camp in Slovenia. Following the departure of Jusuf Gazibegovic, the champions no longer have a right-back in their squad.

Johnston is out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury. The Scot suffered the injury during the short training camp in Catez, was examined more closely at the weekend in Graz and immediately began rehabilitation training.

Storm's sporting director Michael Parensen said on the Blacks' homepage: "Max's short-term absence is naturally painful, especially in the current phase. Nevertheless, I am convinced that we will be able to compensate for his absence in the coming games and that Max will soon be fully available to us again."

Youngster Arjan Malic will probably now step into the breach in the top flight. Although the 19-year-old is a trained central defender, he can also play on the right.