Berenguer's Toe Nightmare Returns as Athletic Face Copa Trip Without Him
Athletic Club winger Alex Berenguer forced to miss Copa del Rey clash against Cultural Leonesa as troublesome big toe injury flares up again.
Athletic Club’s attack will be missing a key component as they head to León for their Copa del Rey clash, with Alex Berenguer sidelined due to that pesky toe problem flaring up again.
Toe Woe Returns
The Navarrese winger has been ruled out of Ernesto Valverde’s squad for Tuesday’s cup tie at Reino de León stadium, with his traumatic arthritis in the big toe of his right foot causing grief once more. It’s the same injury that’s been giving him gyp since the season kicked off.
What’s particularly concerning for Athletic fans is that there’s no certainty about how long Berenguer might be absent this time around. The last time this toe trouble forced him to take a breather, he missed one Champions League match and two La Liga fixtures. His recovery period conveniently aligned with October’s international break, giving him extra time to heal.
Medical Matters
The condition Berenguer is suffering from appears consistent with Hallux rigidus, which affects the metatarsophalangeal joint. In plain English, that’s the joint at the base of the big toe. The condition typically causes:
- Limited range of motion in the toe
- Significant pain during movement
- Difficulty performing certain football movements
Despite these challenges, Berenguer has somehow managed to feature in 17 matches since his last injury-related absence, though he’s clearly been playing through the pain barrier. The club’s medical team has been administering injections and implementing specialized training protocols to keep him on the pitch.
Looking Ahead
Unfortunately for Berenguer and Athletic, the discomfort hasn’t subsided despite these interventions. The medical staff has now determined that another period of rest and targeted treatment is necessary if they want to sort this problem out proper.
Valverde will now need to reshuffle his attacking options as Athletic look to advance in the Copa del Rey without one of their most creative outlets. For Berenguer, it’s back to the treatment room and hoping this latest setback doesn’t keep him on the sidelines for too long.