An injury has done what German and European defenses have failed to do to Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez this season: slow or halt his goal-scoring rampage.
Hernandez’s club coach, Bayer Leverkusen’s Roger Schmidt, announced at a press conference Friday he expects the Mexican striker to miss two weeks or more due to a slight tear to the gluteal muscle on his left leg.
Hernandez suffered the injury Tuesday in Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-1 loss to Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup).
Bayer Leverkusen initially ruled Hernandez out only for Saturday’s Bundesliga (German first division) game against Darmstadt but the German club has extended his absence by another two-plus weeks.
Hernandez likely will miss Bayer Leverkusen’s next two Bundesliga games (vs. Darmstadt on Saturday and Borussia Dortmund on Feb. 21) and both legs of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 series against Sporting Lisbon (on Feb. 18 and 25).
The injury temporarily robs Bayer Leverkusen of the services of one of the soccer world’s hottest strikers. Hernandez has scored 22 goals in 26 games this season — his first with Bayer Leverkusen following his transfer-deadline-day move from Manchester United last September.
Bayer Leverkusen and Hernandez undoubtedly hope the injury won’t recur in the final months of the season and he can resume scoring at will when he returns.
Thumbnail photo via YouTube/Bundesliga
