Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete raised the alarm at Sunderland and the Paraguay national team this Sunday, after being forced to leave the field in the first half of the match against Everton, valid for the 37th round of the Premier League.
At the 22nd minute, Alderete fell to the ground holding his hip area and was attended by the medical team. Although he walked off, the images showed clear signs of pain. The player requested the substitution and made way for a teammate.
In the post-match press conference, manager Régis Le Bris explained that the defender had been experiencing discomfort during the week and that the decision to substitute him was essentially precautionary, to avoid a more serious injury. “He had a minor injury during the week. He was confident he could play, but in a sprint he felt a little, so we decided to avoid something bigger and we will see how he is tomorrow,” said Le Bris.
The coaching staff's expectation is to recover Alderete for the next round, but the club's medical department will monitor his progress in the coming days. The situation also worries the Paraguay national team, which counts on the defender for upcoming call-ups.