Atletico Madrid have announced Lucas Hernandez has suffered a hamstring injury plunging them into crisis ahead of their clash away to Leganes this weekend.
Diego Simeone was already left to prepare for Saturday’s trip to Leganes without first-choice left-back Filipe Luis after the Brazil international suffered a hamstring injury of his own against Chelsea on Wednesday.
Hernandez is first reserve to play at left-back when Luis is not available, but Simeone will be unable to call on both defenders this weekend.
“Lucas Hernandez underwent medical exams on Friday, since he wasn’t able to train due to a niggling muscular injury,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“Lucas Hernandez underwent medical exams on Friday, 29 September, since he wasn’t able to train due to a niggling muscular injury. The medical exam revealed that Lucas has suffered a grade 1 injury to his hamstring.”
Simeone will now be forced to adapt Sime Vrsaljko over at left-back for Atletico’s potential banana-skin trip to Leganes.
Hernandez finally looks to have established himself as a first-team regular under Simeone this season after struggling to do so in previous seasons.
Since August 2015, Atletico have won 80.8% of their La Liga matches with Hernandez in the starting XI, compared to just 60.9% of their games when the 21-year-old has not been selected from the off.
