Ljungberg to wear protective rib "shinpad" at Euro 2008

8:45am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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FREDDIE Ljungberg could wear a special protective "shinguard" over his injured ribs during Euro 2008.

The Sweden captain's fifth right rib was broken when Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor accidentally landed on him during West Ham's Premier League clash with the Magpies on April 26.

Since then, the 31-year-old has returned to his home country for treatment ahead of the European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Having initially been left unable to move without suffering great pain, Ljungberg has recently stepped-up his rehabilitation and is now able to run a "few kilometres without problems", according to Swedish newspaper Expressen.

And the midfielder played down fears that the "shinguard" would restrict his movements during Sweden's Group D fixtures against reigning champions Greece, Spain and Russia.

"I might get a special protection for my ribs," he told Expressen.

"And that is good, it will protect me even if I get an elbow to the ribs. It is like a big shinguard. I have had one previously, and now we are getting a new one.

"It is important that you can move properly in the protection, and that it doesn't poke into your skin when you are running.

"But I have used one of these before so it shouldn't be a problem."

Two-time Swedish footballer of the year Ljungberg, who has scored 14 goals in 71 international appearances, has been skipper of the national side since August 2006.

The Vittsjo-born star was a member of the Sweden squad at both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, scoring the winner in a 1-0 Group B victory over Paraguay.

He also scored in his country's 5-0 Group C win over Bulgaria at Euro 2004.