Zenit`s main side came back to work after over a month-long vacation early in the morning on January 12th. Seven of the team`s players came for pre-season medical examinations to the SOGAZ International Medical Center.

The first to come to the Petersburg clinic at about 8:30 in the morning was Zenit`s head doctor, Sergey Pukhov, and Zenit halfbacks Igor Denisov and Vladimir Bystrov. They were joined a little bit later by Alexander Anyukov, Dmitry Borodin, Alexander Bukharov, Viktor Fayzulin, Konstantin Zyryanov, and Denis Terentyev, who played last year for Zenit`s youth team. Each player`s medical examination lasted several hours.

— It`s simply impossible to conduct the medical tests any faster: for example, the ultrasound alone lasts from 30 minutes to an hour, — explained Alexander Dragun, head of the ambulatory-polyclinic department of SOGAZ International Medical Center.

Each of the Zenit players underwent medical testing by a cardiologist, neurologist, ophthalmologist, traumatologist, and ear-nose-threat specialist, as well as got an ultrasound procedure on their heart and abdominal region. The players also went through testing on a treadmill and stationary bicycle, which make it possible to record the player`s electrocardiogram during physical activity.

— So far, each one of the players we`ve examined is in fine health, — continued Alexander Dragun. — They`re all ready for physical activity. I can`t say that any of the players surprised us in any way. They`re all within the norm. Actually, sometimes even some of our usual patients have readings just as good as those of professional sportsmen.

After the tests are completed, medical specialists will then analyze the results received and compare them with the results of previous tests, before giving their final conclusions to Zenit`s medical department. For example, some of the players were given recommendations from the medical experts already today. Konstantin Zyryanov, for example, was told to swim more often. The traumatologist told Zyryanov that if he swims more often, the halfback will be able to play at the professional level for another 8-10 years.

The second group of Zenit footballers, including, for example, Roman Shirokov and Vyacheslav Malafeev, will go to the doctor`s on Friday. The majority of Zenit`s foreign players will get their medical exams on Saturday, and Zenit will fly to the United Arab Emirates for its first pre-season training camp on Sunday morning.

FC Zenit official website