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Porto's Helton out for season with ruptured achilles

REUTERS / Rafael Marchante

LISBON, March 18, 2014 - Porto goalkeeper and captain Helton will miss the rest of the season and is set for a long spell on the sidelines with a ruptured achilles tendon, the Portuguese club have confirmed.

The 35-year-old Porto captain suffered the injury during Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Sporting in the Portuguese league and underwent surgery on Monday.

Porto said that the Brazilian will be out "for at least three months" but his absence could stretch far into next season, according to one sports medicine specialist.

"For these sort of injuries, the recovery period can be anything from six to 10 months. And then you need to factor in a period of readaptation," said Domingos Gomes, the former Porto doctor.

Helton, who signed a one-year extension to his contract in January, will be replaced by compatriot Fabiano Freitas in Thursday's Europa League last 16, second leg against Napoli in Italy, in which Porto will be defending a 1-0 lead.

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