Tottenham midfielder Sandro may miss the start of the season after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with Brazil.
The news comes as a big blow for the combative midfielder, who was hoping to force his way into Mano Menezes' first XI after missing out on Brazil's two disappointing draws in the competition so far.
"It is a problem that I have had been feeling for some time," Sandro was quoted as saying on the UOL Esporte website.
"It has been troubling me more recently because it has stopped me practising.
"The examination found that I have to have surgery. Unfortunately for me the injury happened now, at an important moment of my career. But I will have the surgery and try to recover soon."
