Enzo Maresca has revealed that Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo could be sidelined for up to eight weeks after medical scans provided a more encouraging assessment of his injury than initially feared.
The manager said there were concerns that the injury could be more serious, but the results of a scan conducted on the player offered some relief.
“At the first moment we expected an even worse injury. We were more worried. But after yesterday’s scan we feel much better, because it’s not as big as we expected. It could be eight weeks,” Maresca said.
The potential eight-week absence would represent a significant setback for Semenyo, who has established himself as an important attacking option. His recovery timeline could keep him out of action until around December, depending on his rehabilitation and progress.
Maresca, however, stressed that the priority is ensuring the Ghana international makes a full recovery before returning to competitive action.
“Now at this moment the most important thing for him is to recover and when he’s back around December we have like a new player in terms of energy,” he added.
The manager also suggested that the injury was not muscular in nature, although his explanation of its precise cause was unclear.
“It’s collateral or something like this. It’s not a muscle problem,” he said.
Semenyo’s expected absence will be a concern for both his club and Ghana, with the forward’s availability for upcoming fixtures dependent on the pace of his recovery.
For now, the focus will be on his rehabilitation, with Maresca hopeful that the attacker can return around December refreshed and ready to make an impact.
