Moscow, Sep 5 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian striker Artem Dzyuba has injured his knee and will miss Friday's football World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland and next Tuesday's against Israel.
Spartak Moscow's 6ft 4in forward got injured during Tuesday's morning training session and needs a few days of treatment.
Zenit St. Petersburg's Alexander Kerzhakov and Dynamo Moscow's Alexander Kokorin are the only strikers remaining in Fabio Capello's squad of 24.
He may call upon recently snubbed senior squad regulars Andrei Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko or Pavel Pogrebnyak to fill the spot.
Dzyuba, 24, made his debut for the national team in a friendly against Greece in November 2011.
Russia hosts Northern Ireland in Moscow Friday and travels to Israel next Tuesday.