Tainio An Injury Doubt

Last updated : 15 October 2009 By Brian Cartlidge

The on-loan from Sunderland midfielder picked up a knee injury during training with the national squad last week which ruled him out of the Finland side that beat Wales 2-1 in Helsinki at the weekend.

Tainio was also forced to sit out training in Hamburg on Monday and it is now considered doubtful that he will have recovered in time for the match against the Germans on Wednesday night.

He must also be considered doubtful to play in Blues' Premier League match against Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Giovanny Espinoza is also an injury doubt ahead of Ecuador's qualifier against Chile in Santiago on the same night.

The Blues centre-back picked up a knock in his country's 2-1 home defeat to Uruguay on Saturday night and was substituted 12 minutes from the end of the match.