Injury agony for Aranburu

Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Aranburu has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a horrific knee injury at the weekend.

The 26-year-old ruptured the anterior and lateral ligaments in his right knee and tore the medial ligament during his side's game at Racing Santander on Sunday.

He will undergo reconstructive surgery in San Sebastian on Tuesday, but Sociedad doctors believe he could be out of the game for up to eight months.

Aranburu was injured 30 minutes into the 2-2 draw at Racing after a heavy challenge from Santander defender Oriol Lozano.

Lozano has already contacted Aranburu to express his sincere regret on hearing the severity of the injury and insists there was no intent in his tackle.

"Those who know me know that it would never cross my mind to injure anyone," he stated.

"I have seen the challenge on television and all I can say is that I'm sorry, truly sorry."

The Sociedad star, who has been a virtual ever-present this term, must now focus on trying to regain full fitness for the start of next season.

The news will be another cruel blow for the Basque outfit who recently lost Serbo-Montenegrin striker Darko Kovacevic for four months with an Achilles complaint.