Luuk de Jong, the Dutch forward for FC Porto, has suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury. This injury occurred during the recent Liga Portugal match against Estoril, marking a setback for the player and his team.
Details of the Injury
The injury was confirmed following an initial assessment at the club’s training facility, Olival. Initially, de Jong was reported to have a contusion on his left knee. However, additional tests revealed a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee, which previously sidelined him for over two months.
In a heartfelt message on social media, de Jong expressed his devastation. He stated, “After months of hard work and training to get back to helping the team, it hurts deeply to be sidelined once again. I will face this challenge with all my strength.”
Impact on the Team
De Jong’s injury leaves FC Porto without one of their key players as they prepare to face Vitoria SC on Thursday. Coach Francesco Farioli will have to adjust his lineup, as the forward’s experience was expected to significantly contribute to the match.
- Luuk de Jong: Suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.
- Victor Froholdt: Left out of the squad.
- Diogo Costa: Also excluded for workload management.
- Deniz Gul, Yann Karamoh, Angel Alarcon: Available options for the upcoming match.
Previous Injury History
Prior to this incident, de Jong had faced challenges with injuries. On September 8, he was hurt during a closed-door friendly against Lusitania de Lourosa after playing just three official matches. He managed to score once for the team during that stretch. His minutes on the pitch had been carefully managed, with appearances of 15, 18, and 23 minutes in recent games.
FC Porto has shown their support for de Jong during this recovery period. The club has not given a specific timeline for his return, but they reassured fans that he is under the care of their Health Department.
