Rome - Italy striker Antonio Di Natale won't be available for Udinese in the final part of the season as he recovers from a knee injury suffered at the weekend, the ANSA news agency reported Tuesday.

Di Natale, 31, was stretchered off the pitch Saturday as Italy beat Montenegro 2-0 in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

He damaged the cruciate ligament in his left knee as he slipped away from the ball on a wet pitch.

The knee was examined Tuesday in a Barcelona clinic, where doctors ruled out surgery but recommended treating the damaged ligament with exercises to reinforce the leg's muscles.

Udinese will miss Di Natale for the last nine Serie A games and in the UEFA Cup. It is unclear whether he will be available for the Confederations Cup featuring world champions Italy in June in South Africa. (dpa)