MADRID, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Club Bilbao has suffered an important injury setback with the confirmation that central defender Yeray Alvarez will have an operation that could keep him out of action for between 10 and 12 weeks.
The club explained that on Monday the 28-year-old will have an operation on the injury to his left abductor muscle, that he suffered in their 3-0 win at home to Almeria before the international break.
The defender fell badly after an ariel challenge early in the match and had to be helped off the pitch to be replaced by Aitor Paredez.
It is the Yeray's second operation in 2023 after undergoing surgery to overcome a persistent groin injury at the end of May. That saw him miss the end of last season and the start of the current campaign, indeed the game against Almeria was just his second start of the campaign.
Yeray will take around 10 weeks to recover from the operation, which means he won't play again in 2023.
The injury leaves the Basque club, who is currently fifth in LaLiga, with just Dani Vivian and Paredes as specialist central defenders.
Athletic's next game is away to FC Barcelona and the club also has winger Nico Williams as a doubt after he picked up a rib injury while on international duty. ■
