Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia is set to miss this summer's Copa America as he recuperates from ankle surgery.
Valencia had been operated upon in September 2010 following a ligament injury that required metal screws to be placed in his ankles. He went under the knife after the Red Devils’ final league game against Hull City to remove the screws.
The 29-year-old will undergo a two-week rehabilitation programme which has ruled him out of Ecuador’s national team for the Copa America. The tournament is scheduled to be held from 11th June to 4th July in Chile.
Ecuador national team manager Gustavo Quinteros is set to miss out on the winger, but admitted that the surgery was unavoidable and hopes that he will be back before the World Cup qualification games.
“The plates or screws were causing trouble”, he was quoted as saying by the Manchester United website.
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“Therefore they [Manchester United] decided on an operation.
“It was urgent surgery for Antonio.
“I want him to be 100 per cent in World Cup qualifying. The surgery was not something that was planned long ago.”
Valencia will hope to regain full fitness before Manchester United begin their 2015/16 campaign in a bid to make up for his Copa America disappointment.
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