Javier Hernandez will be about for about a month after sustaining ankle ligament damage during Manchester United's 1-0 win against Aston Villa.
We've only just kicked off at Villa Park, where Aston Villa host defending champions Manchester United, but there's already been some terrible news for the visitors. No, nobody's scored, but they've already lost Mexico striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, who was walking around uncontested in Shay Given's box before going down awkwardly on his ankle and immediately signalling for a substitution.
The 23-year-old was forced onto a stretcher and it looks like a serious problem - he caught his left foot on the turf and twisted it in a really painful-looking way. We won't know how bad that is until the doctors take a look, of course, but that looked like it could easily have been ligament damage. Hopefully it's just a twist.
Anyway, we're back underway again after a five-minute injury break, and United are looking a little subdued after losing their teammate like that. Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia has come on to replace the stricken Hernandez, and that means a formation change, with Nani moving to the centre.
Javier Hernandez Sidelined For Month With Ankle Injury
It's bad news indeed for Manchester United and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. The Mexico international suffered what looked like a bad ankle injury within the first few minutes of his team's 1-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday, and while the club had initially described the problem - which required a long break and then a stretcher for Hernandez - as a 'twisted ankle' but apparently things are a little worse than that and Sir Alex Ferguson is now claiming that Chicharito will be out for a month:
Howard Nurse Sir Alex now saying Hernandez will be out "for about a month" with damaged ankle ligaments. #MUFC
Dec 03 via webFavoriteRetweet
Fortunately for United, if there's any place where they can absorb an injury, it's at striker. Beyond Chicharito, they have Danny Welbeck - who's been every bit as good as the baby-faced forward so far this season - as well as last year's leading scorer in Dimitar Berbatov. Losing Hernandez for a month is unfortunate, but it's probably not too big a deal.
For more reaction to Hernandez's injury and all things United, visit The Busby Babe.
Dec 03 3:24p by Graham MacAree - 0 comments