Noni Madueke’s England start against Uruguay didn’t last long because of an injury.
Thomas Tuchel deployed the Arsenal winger on the right flank, and he looked good every time he got on the ball in attack.
However, after the half-hour mark, Madueke was on the receiving end of a very strong tackle, and he limped off the pitch in pain.
Arsenal fans are worried after seeing Madueke wearing a knee brace after the game. Now, an injury expert has shared their verdict.
Be honest. How worried are you about Arsenal’s treble chances after Noni Madueke’s injury?
Expert suspects MCL injury for Noni Madueke
There was a bit of confusion over what type of injury Noni Madueke had suffered when he came off the pitch against Uruguay.
Social media chatter emerged stating that it may have been a concussion, but seeing him limping after the game while wearing a brace made it clear that it was a knee injury.
England have since confirmed that Madueke has been released from the camp and will return to Arsenal for further examinations.
An official diagnosis has not been revealed yet, but Physio Scout on X, who offers football injury analysis, fears it could be an MCL problem.
The recovery timeline depends on the grade of injury Madueke has suffered, with the best-case scenario being one week and the worst over eight weeks.
Physio Scout tweeted: “My worry is more so the landing than the initial contact with the Uruguay player. High velocity driving the knee into valgus force brings concern for an MCL injury.
“Knee brace usually indicated when instability is present. He’ll need to wear a brace for a few weeks if confirmed to be a ligamentous injury.
“Expected Recovery Time: Grade 1 MCL: 1-3 weeks. Grade 2 MCL: 4-6 weeks. Grade 3 MCL: 8+ weeks.
“Other possible diagnoses are a bony contusion and a lower-grade PCL injury here, which usually facilitate a quick recovery. But more likely an MCL injury here.
“Further diagnostic tests will be needed to determine the extent of the injury.”
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Thomas Tuchel says he is ‘worried’ about Noni Madueke’s injury
Tuchel is a big fan of Madueke, and he was enjoying the Arsenal winger’s game against Uruguay before the injury.
The England boss was not at all happy with how the referee dealt with the game, as more than one of his players was on the receiving end of strong challenges.
After the game, Tuchel was asked for an update on Madueke’s injury, and the Three Lions boss admitted that he is worried.
He said, as per The Metro: “I’m worried, of course, because I think he was a difference-maker. He started well, he was full of energy, he was ready to go.
“And I think 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 out there, the spaces open up, and he could have been a key player for us, which he is.
“Very sad and upset, and hopefully it’s not a big injury.”
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