Injury expert: Elyounoussi may not be ‘progressing as hoped’ after Southampton surgery update
Mohamed Elyounoussi may have been sent for surgery on his hand injury at Southampton because he is “not progressing as hoped”.
That is according to injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
The Daily Echo reported on 25 October that the 27-year-old underwent an operation that same day.
Elyounoussi sustained hand ligament damage during his Norway side’s 2-0 win over Montenegro exactly two weeks before the procedure.
The attacker is still recovering and will miss tonight’s (26 October) League Cup meeting with Chelsea at Stanford Bridge.
Dinnery explained the specifics of the injury and the timeframe it might take for Elyounoussi to recover.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “My understanding is it’s an injury to the left thumb, an ulnar collateral ligament problem.
“It’s an injury commonly known as ‘skier’s thumb’. It’s common if a skier is holding their pole and they fall and the thumb is forced away from the hand.
“That stresses and strains those ligaments. It can also cause an avulsion fracture. We know he’s been playing with this for a while now.
“There are two reasons that might explain why surgery is taking place now.
“The club may initially have wanted to go down the conservative route to see how the injury would heal by itself. That might not be progressing as hoped.
“Secondly, if there is more damage than initially hoped, the healing process can be impaired and surgical intervention might be needed.
“He is expected to be back on the training pitch ahead of the next league match, meaning he’ll just miss out in the League Cup.
“He may have to wear some sort of splint to protect that thumb, but other than that, it’s a fairly minor injury.”
In other news, Southampton among three teams racing to sign Ligue 1 star in January.