México forward Tecatito breaks leg, likely to miss World Cup

Mexico forward Jess Tecatito Corona is expected to miss the World Cup after breaking his left leg while training with Sevilla, the Spanish club said.Sevilla said Tecatito broke his left fibula and ruptured ankle ligaments on Thursday and will be out for four to five months.

Mexico forward Jesús ''Tecatito'' Corona is expected to miss the World Cup after breaking his left leg while training with Sevilla, the Spanish club said.

Sevilla said Tecatito broke his left fibula and ruptured ankle ligaments on Thursday and will be out for four to five months. The World Cup begins in Qatar on November 20.

The 29-year-old Tecatito was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and underwent surgery later Thursday. Doctors inserted a plate and screws on his fibula and repaired his ankle ligaments, Sevilla said. He is expected to stay hospitalised for a couple of days.

The club said Tecatito sustained the injury by himself, without colliding with any other player.

''It doesn't look good,'' Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui said. ''Unfortunately it's part of soccer and it happened to Jesús.'' México will play its opening World Cup match on November 22 against Poland in Group C, which also includes Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

The Mexican soccer federation said it would give Tecatito as much time to recover as possible, and that it hoped the recovery time would shorter than expected.

Tecatito was a member of Mexico's World Cup squad in 2018 in Russia. He was expected to enter his second World Cup as a regular starter in the 4-3-3 scheme of Argentine coach Gerard Martino, who will now likely have to find a substitute for the injured player.

Uriel Antuna was Tecatito's natural replacement but he hasn't been playing well with Mexican club Cruz Azul. Another option for Martino could be Chivas forward Roberto Alvarado, who has been called up from time to time.

Tecatito signed with Sevilla from Portuguese club Porto in January.

Sevilla, which finished fourth in the league last season, was preparing to face Valladolid on Friday in its second match. The team opened with a loss at Osasuna. AP SSC SSC