Well if this report is accurate, then the injury isn't a fracture as you wouldn't need a second opinion (unless the knee was in an absolute state) - fractures are always picked up by the reporting radiographer or radiologist, whichever one is reporting on the scan. Therefore, it's almost certain to be concerns about ligaments, which take ages to heal because they have such a tiny blood supply. The only hope is that he's sprained them badly and the swelling is preventing accurate results at this time, hence the second opinion. Everybody cross your fingers and say a prayer.
Feels like Plantar Fasciitis all over again. What that did to Almen (PBUM) nearly destroyed me. If something similar happens to the pretender to his throne, I'm not sure what I'll do.
On the injury, hopefully the modern risk adverse approach to injury and illness will mean this is not as bad as feared. I have some experience in this field. This very morning a colleague (a grown man in his early 40s) acted prudently and decided not to come into work because he had a sore throat.
Sounds bad. I did my cruciate in exactly the same circumstances (when kicking a ball, with no challenge or tackle by opposition involved). I was out of the game for months. I really hope (for his sake & ours) that that isn't what he's done.
So do I and so do Ford and Arthur,the foxes,hedgehogs and birds. I haven't asked the neighbour's cat Kit yet, but I'm certain he will agree. All human and animal digits crossed and PBUM/SPQR too!
Whilst this is at least recognition that he’s injured - which we haven’t had from the club - there seems a fair bit of guesswork in this article in terms of layoff period. There’s no mention of any specific type of injury, yet they state he’s almost certainly out for 3/4 weeks if he’s out of the next internationals. The whole article is based around the fact that no one knows what the nature of the injury is - so to be quoting expected layoff timetables seems a bit premature.
The Watford Observer had a piece on its website yesterday based around the Mirror article but it has subsequently disappeared. I can only presume Gino has taken steps to remove all traces of Chalobah because the injury was so horrific they had to erect blue tarpaulin to shield the world of the disturbing sight of one of Englands great young hopes being humanely destroyed with a blunderbuss at London Colney. #PrayForChalobah #LongLiveNathaniel #NCNeverForgotten #GoldenShowersItNeverRainsButItPours #ComeOnYouGoldenBoys
A big layoff would be gutting. Not only for him personally, but he brings out the best in Doucoure too, which was evident at Swansea. Still, proved we can win without him!
If he is injured for a while then I expect a deal for Hector Herrera will be in place by the January window.
https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/injury-news-nathaniel-chalobah Integrated with squad "well" before new year. Knee surgery.
A big blow this. He'll be out for a while. After Christmas at least. https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/injury-news-nathaniel-chalobah
Whilst I'm gutted because Nate's been sensational, every cloud has a silver lining potentially in that Cleverley moves back alongside Doucoure and Maxi plays in Cleverley's advanced central position.
Great shame for the lad that. He was just starting to shine. Makes a space for someone to come in and have a chance though to show us what they can do. Pererya? Success?
A real shame but at least we have more than decent alternatives ... Which reminds me how are our CB problems looking? Britos' ban is up but I reckon he'll get hammered by the refs for quite a while. What of Prodl etc, etc.
Pereyra has played many games as CM for Juve and Udi, so we may see him in as a straight replacement for Chalobah if Silva wants to keep Cleverley as a a front line of defence. Either way lets hope we dont see Capoue back in until all the other midfielders.
Really feel for the lad on a personal level. Hope he makes a quick recovery and pushes himself into contention for a World Cup squad spot in the second half of the season. From a Watford point of view it is a blow as he was starting to really control things in the middle of the park. It is the one area that we have depth and options though so I think we will be ok.
Haha the Daily Mail coming out with the 'potentially six months out' line. Guessing they know better than the club's medical team then. Not the best news, but not the worst. He'll miss a couple of months and be back for the Christmas/New Year period. We have so many options still. Cleverley, Capoue, Pereyra and Watson to fill Chalobah's position and further forward we can put Cleverley, Pereyra, Zarate or Hughes who I really hope starts to make an impact in the next few months.
Not sure any of those can really play the same sort of role Chalobah can/did. Most of the others are quite attacking and not as disciplined. Still at leas there are some options!