Season appears over for van Buyten
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Manchester City defender Daniel van Buyten will miss the rest of the season with a groin injury, the Premier League club's website reported on Friday.
The Belgian international, who is on loan from French side Marseille, has played just six games since arriving in February and was sent off at Leeds on Monday.
"We have suffered a major blow," City's assistant manager Arthur Cox said. "It is highly unlikely that he will be able to play for us again this season."
Van Buyten will also miss Belgium's friendly against Germany next week.
The loss of the defender comes at a bad time for City, who are 16th in the standings -- only three points above the relegation zone.
Despite a 4-1 victory over local rivals and champions Manchester United this month, City have lost 13 games this season, including Monday's 2-1 defeat by fellow strugglers Leeds.
Manager Kevin Keegan will also miss the league game against Fulham on Saturday after doctors told him to rest following treatment for a back injury.
"We miss his personality in the dressing room but we have to get on with it, respond to it and get into the trenches to make up for his loss," Cox said.
Belgium coach Aime Anthuenis will name a replacement for van Buyten on Monday for Wednesday's international in Cologne.
He gives Charleroi midfielder Gregory Dufer a first call after making six changes to his 18-man squad following the 2-0 defeat at home to France last month.
Anthuenis also named on Friday Erwin Lemmens from Spanish Primera Liga side Espanyol to replace injured goalkeeper Geert De Vlieger.
