Mexico’s worst fears have been confirmed: Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is out of the 2015 Gold Cup after suffering a broken collarbone.
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Hernandez, 27, suffered the injury in a friendly against Honduras as he collided with defender Brayan Beckeles just after half time. Mexico’s final friendly ahead of the Gold Cup finished 0-0 in Houston, but Chicarito’s injury know leaves El Tri boss Miguel Herrera without two of his best players after defender Hector Moreno was also ruled out of the tournament.
Mexico’s team doctor Gerardo Aguilar has since confirmed the injury and has said the Manchester United forward, who spent last season out on loan at Real Madrid, will miss “three to four weeks minimum” which all but ends his Gold Cup chances.
“The fracture of the right collarbone has been confirmed clinically,” Aguilar said. “He’s being re-evaluated in hospital to confirm what we observed in a radiological study. [He’ll be out] for three to four weeks minimum.”
Drawn in Group C, Mexico faces Cuba in Chicago on July 9, Guatemala in Arizona on July 12 and Trinidad and Tobago on July 15 in Charlotte in the group stages. The semifinals will be played in Atlanta on July 22, so even if Mexico decides to keep Hernandez around after he was submitted in their final 23-man roster last week, the final four would be the earliest stage he could compete in.
With a spot to represent CONCACAF at the 2017 Confederations Cup on the line and after a disappointing showing with a “B team” at the Copa America in July, Herrera’s side will be under plenty of pressure and El Tri will now have to produce the goods without their most lethal striker.
As for Hernandez, his club career is now hanging in the balance as his future at United was already uncertain, but now any potential move away from the Red Devils may be delayed as he recovers from injury. Right now, this injury sums up Hernandez’s luck over the past couple of years. This guy just can’t catch a break... Oh wait. Well, you know what I mean.