According to ESPN Brazil, Joelinton risks missing the remainder of the season after fears his thigh injury is worse than first anticipated.
Brazilian journalist João Castelo-Branco reveals that the midfielder is set to see a specialist and could require surgery if the latest scan flag up significant damage.
Initial tests suggested he’d be missing for six weeks, as Eddie Howe suggested in last Friday’s press conference. However, he’s expected to be ruled out for FOUR months and could miss the remainder of the 2023/24 season if he has to go under the knife.
The 27-year-old was a big miss in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Man City, but to lose him for months would be a hammer blow. His power, intensity and dominance is unlike anything our other midfield options are able to offer, not to mention our engine room already looks weak with Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson still injured and Sandro Tonali suspended.
Coping without big Joe will be tough for six weeks, never mind four months, so let’s hope specialists declare he does not require surgery in the coming weeks.
