Manchester United’s South American winger, Antonio Valencia, has been injured while representing Ecuador at the CONMEBOL Copa America. The 25-year-old playmaker sprained his left ankle, the same area in which he fractured and dislocated his left foot last September…
Valencia spent just 45 minutes playing with Ecuador in his nation’s first match in the 2011 Copa America, ending in a 0-0 draw with Paraguay. The Premier League winning right winger picked-up a sprained ankle in his left leg during the first half of the game on Sunday, and Ecuador manager Reinaldo Rueda blamed referee Sergio Pezzotta for not protecting Valencia in his side’s scoreless tie in Group B at Santa Fe, Argentina.
The 25-year-old United star sustained a fracture and dislocation in the same left ankle last winter in a Champions League group match against Glasgow Rangers at Old Trafford, which agonisingly kept Valencia out of action for six months. On his return, the Ecuadorian completed the season with just 3 goals in 19 games. His newly suffered injury has kept him out of training – but he is doubtful for just one match – against Venezuela this Saturday.