Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu will miss the remainder of the Premier League season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola. The 20-year-old, who had played in all 11 league games for Leicester this season, sustained the injury last Friday.
Manager Steve Cooper confirmed the news on Thursday, calling it a significant setback for the young player. “It’s a serious injury. He’s had an ACL injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season,” Cooper stated during a press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Chelsea.
“It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as an ACL.”
Fatawu’s loan spell from Sporting CP was made permanent earlier this year after an impressive performance last season, where he netted six goals in 40 matches, helping Leicester secure promotion from the Championship.
His absence adds to the growing list of footballers sidelined with ACL injuries, including Manchester City’s Rodri, Real Madrid’s Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, Galatasaray’s Mauro Icardi, and Juventus’ Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal.
Cooper acknowledged the frequency of ACL injuries in football but emphasized its severity, especially for a young player like Fatawu. “Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well,” Cooper added.
In a further injury concern for Leicester, Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew also picked up a knock in the same game. However, Cooper provided a more optimistic update on Ayew, noting that his injury is less severe.
“The hope is that he may be available on the weekend, but it’s a little bit inconclusive at the moment,” Cooper said.
Leicester currently sits 15th in the Premier League standings with 10 points, while Chelsea, their upcoming opponent, is in third place with 19 points.
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