Medical insider: Mason Holgate likely has knee ligament damage amid Everton latest
Everton defender Mason Holgate has likely suffered damage to his medial collateral ligament.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Holgate, 25, missed Everton’s last match, the 1-1 draw away to Leeds United on Tuesday (30 August) through injury.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo last Saturday (27 August), Frank Lampard explained that the centre-back had “opened up his knee and felt some pain”.
The manager went on to reveal that Holgate was to be sent for a scan, the results of which have not yet been disclosed.
But Dinnery is confident that the language used by Lampard suggests that Holgate has suffered a relatively minor MCL injury.
“Usually, when we talk about ‘opening up the knee’ that is the internal ligament, the medial collateral ligament,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“It’s fairly common in football because of the dynamic nature of the sport. It can happen when you land awkwardly or from running.
“If you’re looking at an external force, a tackle from the outside of the knee, it’s the job of the MCL to resist that force.
“So, he will probably have a slight strain.
“We understand that it is not on the serious side, and Lampard is hoping for it to be weeks rather than months. However, it may be after the international break given its close proximity.
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