By Igor Nitsak
KIEV (Reuters) - Dynamo Kiev's Spanish striker Fran Sol has been ruled out of their Europa League last 16, first leg tie at Chelsea on Thursday due to a shoulder injury.
The 26-year-old came off in the first half against FC Desna in a Ukrainian top-flight game on Saturday after a challenge.
Sol said on Instagram that he will need surgery and local media estimated that he will be out for two months.
"The worst predictions are confirmed and I'll have to go through surgery for a shoulder injury ... I cannot be sadder after the beautiful moment I was living with Dynamo Kiev," he player posted on his official Instagram account https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_p_Bul2JmfAcsn_&d=DwIBaQ&c=4ZIZThykDLcoWk-GVjSLmy8-1Cr1I4FWIvbLFebwKgY&r=7xBy04fayPyaMXphMPfWCIZ-4-InHsEfBlpPg9XRp7o&m=qUIHIzxm2oAhFU7n3bH-QbLVE7pKcqnAX0tdAYGO0fs&s=neAU_JNJjFc7WS3-zZ65JmbIdxtXVnY1eL0ul-ZQdKE&e=.
Sol, who joined Kiev from Dutch side Willem II in January, helped the Ukrainian side get past Olympiakos Piraeus in the Europa League last 32 knockout round. After a 2-2 draw in Piraeus, Sol scored to secure a 1-0 win in the return.
The Kiev side are second in the Ukrainian Premier League, seven points behind Shakhtar Donetsk after 20 matches.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)