Thomas Tuchel has admitted he’s ‘frightened’ for Noni Madueke after the Arsenal winger was forced off during England’s friendly draw with Uruguay.
Along with his club teammate Bukayo Saka amongst those given the night off on Friday, Madueke began on the suitable but was forced off after just 38 minutes after a challenge from Rodrigo Aguirre.
The previous Chelsea star was immediately substitute and was spotted leaving Wembley that night with a heavy limp and wearing a brace on his left knee.
While the precise nature of the injury continues to be to be revealed, Tuchel’s initial assessment of the situation didn’t sound positive.
‘I’m frightened, in fact, because I feel he was a difference-maker today,” Tuchel said.
‘He began well, he was stuffed with energy, he was able to go.’
‘And I feel against a team like Uruguay, who relies on one-against-ones, to isolate them there and to go in one-against-ones from every minute on the market, the spaces open up and he might have been a key player for us, which he’s.
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‘Very sad and upset and hopefully it’s not a giant injury.’
Madueke joined the Gunners from Chelsea for £52million last summer and has chipped in with seven goals and 4 assists.
The 24-year-old missed over two months of motion earlier within the season after suffering a medial knee ligament in a league match against Manchester City in September.
Arsenal will probably be desperate for his latest issue to not be as serious with Mikel Arteta’s side still fighting on three fronts, nine points clear within the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup.
Arsenal have already lost Eberechi Eze to injury with the in-form attacking midfielder missing the defeat to City at Wembley last weekend.
It has since been revealed the previous Crystal Palace star will miss 4 to 6 weeks with a calf injury.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes withdrew from international duty with France and Brazil with ankle and knee issues respectively.
Leandro Trossard also sits out of international duty with Belgium, as his Martin Odegaard as he finishes his recovery from a knee issue.
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