Russia´s Pogrebnyak faces Euro withdrawal: report

The Russian camp have called in UEFA's medical commission to examine the knee injury of striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, a move which seemed likely to presage his withdrawal from the squad, Russian and Austrian media reports said Saturday.

Such a visit is required if a player is allowed to be replaced once the official squad has been announced.

Reports in Russian media said a UEFA-accredited doctor had signed an official statement to state that Pogrbnyak's injury was serious enough to prevent the forward from playing at Euro-2008 and Austria's APA news agency said he was on the brink of pulling out.

Zenit St Petersburg striker Pogrebnyak suffered the injury after scoring in a warm-up friendly win over Serbia. He had been hoping to get fit for Tuesday's match with Spain after Thursday undergoing an examination at the cabinet of specialist German team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt.

Should he miss the tournament it would be a double-dose of heartache for Pogrebnyak, who finished this season's UEFA Cup campaign as joint top scorer along with Luca Toni with 10 goals.

He missed out on the Russian side's final triumph over Scottish side Rangers through suspension.

After taking on the Spanish Guus Hiddink's Russians meet holders Greece (June 14) and Sweden (June 18) in the group stage.