Althaus out for two months

Ruling Women’s Champions League winners Viborg HK will be without German international Anja Althaus for the next two months. The 27 year old line player tore a ligament in her knee in Viborg’s away game against Oltchim Vâlcea on Sunday.

This injury causes particularly serious problems for Viborg, as the team’s other line player, Danish international Lene Lund Høy Karlsen is pregnant.

Viborg managed to get Karen Smidt, who usually plays in the reserve team, as replacement for Karlsen, but after Althaus’ injury, 30 year old Smidt is actually the only natural pivot left in the Danes´ squad.

"This weakens us quite a lot, but we will simply have to move closer together and make use of the hidden resources in the team," head coach Jakob Vestergaard said. He is now considering the possibility of re-educating one of the backcourt players in the squad into a pivot. He is not yet willing to reveal, which player he has in mind.

Anja Althaus has been in Viborg since the summer of 2007. Her contract is expiring after this season, but is expected to be extended.

Viborg are currently second in Group 2 of the Champions League main round, with four points after their first three matches.