Brighton news: Medical expert reveals Jakub Moder return date after ‘heartbreaking’ news
Brighton midfielder Jakub Moder will not return from his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury until after the World Cup.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Moder, 23, was stretchered off just five minutes after he was introduced late on in the 0-0 draw with Norwich City last Saturday (2 April).
Brighton boss Graham Potter confirmed that the Pole has suffered an ACL injury, per The Athletic the following day.
The 20-cap ace had just returned from helping his national side navigate the playoffs to reach the finals of the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
But his World Cup dream is now likely over after his “heartbreaking” setback, suggests Dinnery.
“It’s a ruptured ACL,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“It’s April now and we have a World Cup coming up at the end of the year. This puts his chance of playing in that tournament in serious doubt.
“It’s heartbreaking for him, but it’s not an injury we like to see a player rush back from.
“The pendulum has swung with these injuries. Once upon a time, it could be 18 months, then it came down to four to five.
“Now, we’re seeing a move toward the nine to 10-month period. Any return to play before that nine-month period, there is a significant risk of reinjury.
“Every month you move past that, it reduces by around 50 per cent, but he isn’t going to have a lot minutes in his legs ahead of the World Cup.
“Any involvement would be a massive, massive gamble. He won’t want to rush because he has a career to see out on the other side of this injury.”
Moder has registered two goals and four assists in 34 appearances this term.
The World Cup draw saw Poland pitted against Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
In other news, Aston Villa make move to sign Brighton star Yves Bissouma after “huge” Nassef Sawiris vow.