Lampard joins flight to Serbia for treatment

By Ken Ferris

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has flown to Serbia for treatment on the torn thigh muscle he suffered training with England ahead of last weekend's friendly with Brazil, British media reported on Saturday.

The Guardian said the 31-year-old Lampard flew to Belgrade on Thursday to see Serbian doctor Marijana Kovacevic, who has treated several players from leading Premier League clubs.

Kovacevic has received widespread publicity in England for using a controversial treatment involving the use of fluids derived from horse placenta to speed up the healing process.

Liverpool's Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson have also travelled to Serbia for 'special treatment' according to the club website (www.liverpoolfc.tv) as has Arsenal's injured forward Robin van Persie.

Lampard suffered his injury on November 12 and Premier League leaders Chelsea said he would likely be missing for three weeks ruling him out of a crunch London derby at Arsenal on November 29.

British media said Lampard had not been undergoing the placenta treatment with Kovacevic, who specialises in muscle injuries, but had utilised standard massage oils.

Liverpool said midfielders Riera and Benayoun were due to be out for another two weeks with hamstring problems but could now feature against Manchester City at Anfield in Saturday's early kickoff after the much-publicised journey to eastern Europe.

Benitez was so pleased with the treatment he sent defenders Aurelio and Johnson to Serbia as well.