Thierry Rendall blow: Valencia right-back suffers hamstring injury
Valencia's defensive crisis deepens as Thierry Rendall joins the growing injury list with a hamstring problem that could sideline him for up to two months.
Valencia’s defensive woes continue to pile up as Portuguese right-back Thierry Rendall becomes the latest casualty in what’s becoming a proper injury nightmare for the club.
Injury Details
The club confirmed on Sunday that Rendall has suffered a hamstring injury to his left leg. The Portuguese defender started against Elche but was forced off after just 17 minutes when he overstretched while trying to reach a loose ball.
It’s a right kick in the teeth for the lad, especially considering he only recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines after anterior cruciate ligament surgery last season. Talk about rotten luck!
Expected Recovery Time
While every injury is different, this appears to be similar to the hamstring problem that Julen Agirrezabala picked up against Celta Vigo. If Rendall’s recovery follows a similar pattern, Valencia could be without their right-back for:
- 6-8 weeks on the treatment table
- Potentially missing up to 10 matches across all competitions
- A significant portion of their winter campaign
Valencia’s Defensive Crisis
This couldn’t have come at a worse time for Los Che, who are already dealing with serious defensive shortages. Let’s not forget that Mouctar Diakhaby also suffered a hamstring injury against Celta that required surgery due to the severity and location of the tear, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
The situation is so dire that manager Corberán has twice publicly stated that Valencia need to “urgently resolve” their defensive issues by bringing in a new defender to cover for Diakhaby’s absence. Now they might need two!
Foulquier Steps In
Dimitri Foulquier replaced Rendall against Elche but received a frosty reception from the home supporters, who whistled him whenever he touched the ball during the first half. Despite the hostile atmosphere, the Guadeloupe international had two decent chances from set-pieces.
With the transfer window open, Valencia’s phone will be ringing off the hook as they scramble to shore up their backline before their season goes completely Pete Tong.