Álex Moreno sidelined for six weeks with calf injury as Girona's depth tested
Girona's only natural left-back faces lengthy spell on the treatment table after picking up a calf injury, leaving Míchel with selection headache until April.
Girona’s impressive campaign has hit a significant bump in the road with confirmation that left-back Álex Moreno will be out for six weeks with a calf injury.
Crucial absence
After undergoing medical tests this week, Girona have confirmed the extent of Moreno’s injury to his left soleus muscle. The news represents a proper kick in the teeth for Míchel Sánchez, who has relied heavily on the former Aston Villa man since his arrival.
The Catalan defender has been an ever-present figure in the Girona backline, playing every possible minute since making his debut against Villarreal at La Cerámica on matchday two. His incredible run of 20 consecutive 90-minute performances underlines just how vital he’s been to Girona’s system.
Moreno picked up the injury during the closing stages of Girona’s match against Oviedo at the Tartiere, forcing Míchel to shuffle his pack for the subsequent fixture at the Sánchez Pizjuán. The gaffer moved Arnau Martínez across to the left side - a solution he’ll likely need to stick with until potentially April.
Selection headaches
If Moreno’s recovery follows the expected timeline, he won’t return to action until after the international break in late March, meaning he’ll miss the trip to El Sadar to face Osasuna among several other crucial fixtures.
Míchel’s options to cover the position include:
- Continuing with Arnau Martínez on the left flank
- Deploying Francés in the role
- Utilizing Blind, who has experience at left-back but isn’t at his best there
- Potentially using Bryan Gil or Joel Roca if Girona switch to a back five with wing-backs
The injury comes at a particularly challenging time as Girona continue their remarkable season, fighting on multiple fronts with a relatively thin squad compared to some of their competitors at the top end of the table.