Alejandro Garnacho injury ‘worse than first feared’ with Manchester United starlet expected to miss Argentina games
Alejandro Garnacho’s injury could be worse than initially expected with the forward set to miss Argentina’s international games in March.
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The 18-year-old was brought on as a second-half substitute against Southampton on Sunday and was on the receiving end of a heavy but fair challenge from full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
The winger required treatment and was eventually replaced by Fred in the closing stages of the 0-0 draw, hobbling down the touchline and was later seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
Erik ten Hag explained he did not think the injury was ‘too bad’ with United facing Real Betis on Thursday and Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday before the international break.
Garnacho was called into the senior Argentina squad for the first time for games against Panama and Curacao on 23 March and 28 March respectively.
But TyC Sports now report the youngster is set to miss those matches, with the injury suffered on Sunday more severe than first feared having undergone further scans on Tuesday.
Garnacho’s brother Roberto also shared a social media post referring to Alejandro’s injury with the caption: ‘I know you will come back stronger.’
The former Atletico Madrid youngster has scored four and provided five assists since breaking into the first-team in October, scoring the crucial second goal in the 3-1 win over West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup before Fred added a late third.
United already face being without Casemiro for the next four games after the Brazil international was shown his second straight red card of the season against Southampton.
The former Real Madrid star will miss Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham and Premier League games against Newcastle, Brentford and Everton after United decided against appealing the decision.
Tottenham can leapfrog United into fourth place should they beat Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday.
United are not in league action again until the first weekend of April because of their FA Cup clash at Fulham this weekend but will have two games in hand on Antonio Conte’s side when they resume.
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