Marc Aguado will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a right ankle injury, a significant blow to Elche CF's midfield options. Medical tests have confirmed damage to the peroneoastragalino anterior and peroneocalcaneal ligaments, the club announced.
The 26-year-old midfielder sustained the injury in the 26th minute of the goalless draw against Villarreal, while attempting to block a cross from the right flank. His ankle swelled visibly and he had to be substituted, though he remained on the bench to support his teammates in the second half. The club's head of medical services, Dr. César Quesada, supervised the tests. "The recovery time will be determined based on his progress," Quesada said.
The midfielder's absence comes at a critical point in the season. Elche, who sit 18th in the standings with seven points, face a decisive run of fixtures. The team has recorded one win, four draws, and four losses from their first nine games, scoring eleven goals and conceding seventeen. Aguado will miss the next three league games: the trip to Rayo Vallecano this Saturday 24 October, the match against Valencia, and the clash with Real Betis. He will also be unavailable for at least the first round of the Copa del Rey.
His loss leaves a considerable gap in the centre of the park. Aguado, who joined the club in the winter transfer window last season, had started six league matches this campaign and scored one goal. His work rate and ball recovery will be hard to replace. The team will be seeking their second win of the season at Vallecas, where they lost 1-0 last term.
Their next opponent, Rayo Vallecano, are in 14th place. Elche approach this match following a run of results that includes a goalless draw with Celta and a 1-3 away win at Espanyol. This latter victory, their first and only win of the season so far, accounts for three of their seven total points. Their recent form over the last five matches is one win, three draws, and one loss, a record that underlines their struggle for victories. The squad must compensate for Aguado's absence with the remaining options available to the manager. Striker Fer Niño, the team's top scorer with five goals, will be a key reference in attack as they aim to pick up points on the road. With the leaders, Barcelona, twenty points ahead, every match is key in their bid to climb away from the relegation places.
More detail at elchecf.es
