REAL MADRID
An injury at Palmeiras has given Endrick an unexpected opportunity to play and find form
An ACL injury to Endrick’s teammate, Dudu, has given the future Real Madrid winger an unexpected chance to regain form on the pitch.
The state of happiness in green shirts at Palmeiras is thanks to the winning run that stretches back four games and has secured the almost assured qualification of the team to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, thanks to a goal-fest against Deportivo Pereira.
However, smiles were wiped off faces when it was confirmed that Dudu, Palmeiras’ 31-year-old forward, suffered a broken ACL in his right knee, as well as a meniscus injury.
Dudu was a key piece in the system set up by Abel Ferreira’s side, playing in 42 of 53 Palmeiras games this season; in the Brasileirão he started 14 games before his injury.
Dudu’s knee pain turned out to be the worst possible news
In the last game against Vasco de Gama he had to come off after just 43 minutes due to knee pain which ended up being a broken ligament. His teammates quickly came out on social media to show their support for the player who had grabbed 3 goals and 7 assists.
Palmeiras’ statement said: Striker Dudu suffered a sprain in his right knee in the match against Vasco, this Sunday (27). The number 7 underwent tests this Monday (28) and a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and injury to the meniscus were diagnosed. He will begin his recovery with physiotherapy sessions and will undergo surgery in the coming weeks. Lots of strength, Baixola! We are together!
Endrick is an option for Ferreira at Palmeiras
Abel Ferreira, the Palmeiras manager, needs to quickly find a replacement for Dudu. The return leg against Deportivo Pereira, which, barring a catastrophe, will see the side qualify for the semi-finals, could be an ideal opportunity to test things out in order to find a personnel solution.
One of the options is Endrick, the future Real Madrid player. The Brazilian has seen a huge dip in form and has not seen the minutes he perhaps expected under Ferreira, who has preferred to use him sparingly from the bench. Out of the last nine games, Endrick has only appeared in two, starting just one, and he has not found the target in a long while.
Will Endrick replace the injured Dudu for Palmeiras?
The injury to Dudu could be the perfect chance for Endrick to find confidence in both his own mind and that of the manager.
However, Endrick is not expected to be the first option that Ferreira chooses. Breno Lopes and Jhon Jhon are two more wide players and, as things stand, have more chances to make it into the starting XI of Palmeiras, over the 17-year-old. Luis Guilherme and López could be two more options for Abel Ferreria to use instead of Dudu, but just like Endrick they too have not had many recent minutes on the field of play.