LONDON, August 12 – New Fulham boss Mark Hughes suffered a major setback on Wednesday when Swiss defender Philippe Senderos was ruled out for up to six months after rupturing his Achilles tendon.The 25-year-old former Arsenal player, who moved to Craven Cottage in June, was injured while training in London after withdrawing from the Switzerland squad to play Austria on Wednesday.
"It’s an unbelievable setback for Philippe, a terrible blow for him, his club but also for the national team," Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told the BBC.
Senderos’s injury leaves Hughes with only Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes as his only fit recognised centre-halves with the new English Premier League season due to start on Saturday.
It’s also a blow for Switzerland, three weeks before the start of the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
