Malaria-stricken Touré Likely to Miss Start of Season

Kolo Touré has added to Arsène Wenger's problems after the Arsenal defender was diagnosed with malaria. Touré is believed to have contracted the disease while on holiday in his native Ivory Coast and is unlikely to be well enough to start Arsenal's Premier League campaign.

Touré was sent to hospital in Vienna after the club's medical staff had became concerned. Professor Christopher Whitty, a specialist on the disease, said the type of malaria found in Ivory Coast is usually completely treatable if diagnosed at an early stage, as in Touré's case. The player is highly unlikely to suffer any long-term effects once he recovers, which should take between two weeks and a month.

Malaria is extremely common in Africa - Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Celestine Babayaro and Lomana LuaLua have all returned to the Premier League over the last couple of years having contracted the disease.