Roy handed defender setback

Fulham have been handed a blow in their reported bid to sign Liverpool's Sami Hyppia after Martin Skrtel suffered a knee injury.

Liverpool will have a clearer picture on Tuesday after the Slovakian international has seen a specialist, but a lot will depend on the extent of the problem and whether he needs surgery to repair it.

Both the Cottagers and Stoke have long been linked with a swoop for Hyppia, who was left out of the Reds' Champions League squad.

However, with Skrtel set to learn his expected lay-off on Tuesday, it seems Hyppia will be needed as cover at Anfield.

"Martin underwent a scan this morning which showed damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee," club spokesman Ian Cotton told www.liverpoolfc.tv.