The Xeneize midfielder suffered muscle discomfort in the morning practice and will be out at least until the debut in the Copa Argentina
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Exequiel Zeballos set off the alarm at Boca after not being able to complete the first part of Wednesday's training session at the Ezeiza training ground. The forward felt muscle discomfort and, after undergoing medical tests, his injury was confirmed: a hamstring tear.
The physical issue suffered by Changuito, one of the team's most unbalancing players, caused concern in the coaching staff led by Claudio Úbeda, since it will require approximately three weeks of recovery. In that regard, the 24-year-old striker, who had been one of the team's standout performers, will miss the matches against Vélez, Platense, and Racing in the Apertura Tournament. If his recovery progresses as expected, his return would only take place in the debut of the Copa Argentina against Gimnasia de Chivilcoy.
El Changuito podría no jugar ante Vélez o incluso más partidos
The injury came at the least opportune moment, since Xeneize is dealing with a long list of forwards in the infirmary, including Alan Velasco, Carlos Palacios, Milton Giménez, Edinson Cavani, Miguel Merentiel, and Lucas Janson, some of whom had only just started training with the group again. With that outlook, the coach is once again looking toward the youth divisions to build the attacking front.
Íker Zufiaurre and Gonzalo Gelini, starters in the last win against Newell's, appear as options, as does Kevin Zenón, who has made good appearances but has recently been pushed aside. In light of Zeballos's absence, Sifón will have to decide whether to repeat the system or strengthen the midfield to compensate for the loss of his main attacking weapon.
Zeballos's absence forces the coaching staff to reconfigure the team at the start of this championship, either by maintaining the current system or by reinforcing the midfield to make up for the loss of its main offensive weapon.