Super Eagles star Henry Onyekuru is a major doubt for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia after suffering an awkward looking injury on Friday night. The attacking winger was stretchered off after 73 minutes in his side Anderlecht’s 1-0 win over his former club AS Eupen at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock in Brussels.
It was reported on Saturday morning that the 20-year-old forward would undergo a scan to determine the extent of the injury and the next course of action.
After the scans, the club confirmed their fears regarding a cruciate ligament injury.
“After a thorough examination, the RSCA medical staff is able to report that Henry Onyekuru has torn the inner lateral ligament of the knee,” read a statement on Anderlecht’s official website.
“It will be operated urgently. The medical staff is in close contact with Everton to determine where the surgery will take place,” added the statement.
Onyekuru joined Everton from Eupen at the beginning of the season but was immediately loaned out to Anderlecht where he has scored nine goals in the league this season.
The injury might have put the ASPIRE Academy product’s participation at the World Cup in jeopardy. He last featured for the Super Eagles, his third cap in last month’s World Cup qualifier in Algeria.