Thursday 8 January 2015 10:18, UK
Lazio have suffered a blow ahead of Sunday's city derby at Roma with the news that midfielder Senad Lulic will be sidelined for at least five weeks with a knee injury.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international was hurt during his team's 3-0 triumph over Sampdoria on Monday and tests this week have shown ligament damage.
A statement from Lazio read: "With respect to Lulic's condition, tests done have revealed a second degree lesion in his interior collateral ligament in his left knee.
"Lulic will see a specialist on Friday. The recovery time is estimated at around 40 days."
Lulic's injury is a setback for Lazio coach Stefano Pioli, with the midfielder having played in all but one of Lazio's 17 league games this season.
The 28-year-old has scored three goals and set up four more to help Lazio climb to third in the standings, nine points adrift of Sunday's rivals.
Lazio are unbeaten since November 22 and have won three of their last four league games.
