Ohio's Valladolid nightmare: New signing crocked after 10-minute debut
Noah Ohio faces a month on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in training, just days after making his brief debut for struggling Real Valladolid.
The phrase ‘from hero to zero’ has rarely been more apt as Real Valladolid’s winter signing Noah Ohio now faces weeks on the treatment table after managing just 10 minutes in a blanquivioleta shirt.
Debut and disaster
The Dutch striker finally made his long-awaited debut for Valladolid in their recent match against Córdoba, coming on as a late substitute with his team already down to 10 men following Juric’s controversial red card and trailing 3-1.
But any hopes of Ohio becoming the club’s saviour have been temporarily dashed. The Netherlander pulled up in training on Wednesday with a right hamstring issue that has now been confirmed as a muscle injury. While the club states recovery will depend on how the injury evolves, these types of setbacks typically keep players sidelined for around a month.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Valladolid, who are currently battling to maintain their status in LaLiga Hypermotion (Segunda División) during what’s been a proper mare of a season.
Forward options
Ohio had been putting in the hard yards with double training sessions to reach match fitness before his cameo appearance, making this injury all the more frustrating for player and club alike.
With the Dutchman now unavailable, manager Tevenet will need to look elsewhere for attacking options ahead of Sunday’s crucial home fixture against Castellón at the José Zorrilla stadium:
- Latasa, who started in their last home match, could return to the starting lineup
- Norwegian striker Erlien, who began the game against Córdoba, is another option
- Marcos André, recently recovered from his own injury troubles, provides additional depth
For Ohio, it’s a case of the Adam and Eve’s not believing his rotten luck – just as he was ready to make his mark in Spanish football.