Injury curse strikes Totti again

Roma captain and talisman Francesco Totti, seen here in action on 05 December 2007, is out of his club´s crucial trip to Torino on Sunday with an injured foot.

      ROME (AFP) - Roma captain and talisman Francesco Totti is out of his club's crucial trip to Torino on Sunday with an injured foot.

      Totti has re-injured the same foot that kept him out for the whole of November.

      He had made just two appearances since coming back into the Roma fold, starting their last two matches against Livorno and Manchester United in the Champions League.

      "The match against the 'Toro' is important, but I won't be going. I'm not well, I've still got problems with my right foot," said Totti.

      "We will see during the week if I am able to recover before the winter break."

      Roma only have two more league matches and a cup game to play before the Italian league season takes a festive break from December 23 until January 13.

      Roma are currently second in the standings, trailing champions Inter Milan by five points.

      "Totti's absence against Torino is annoying, it's an important loss," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti.

      "This new setback is grating on me because Roma needs him and his qualities. Maybe I was wrong to play him before the pain in his foot subsided."

      Totti came back into the starting line-up a week ago against Livorno, having sat on the bench for the entire match the week before against Udinese.

      However, Roma thrived during Totti's absence, winning six and drawing two of the games they played while he was on the sidelines.

      In his place, Macedonia forward Mirko Vucinic took centre-stage and proved an able deputy.