Injury crisis undermines Corberán’s Valencia as Copete becomes 17th absentee | OneFootball

Valencia’s season is being choked by injuries, as José Copete faces meniscus surgery, becoming the 17th player to miss at least one squad through fitness issues. They sit only two points above the drop.

Superdeporte reports Copete is likely to miss Osasuna and the rest of the campaign, sharpening focus on head of medical Pedro López Mateu and an unchanged department despite long-running problems, including under José Bordalás.

Defence has been hit hardest. Dimitri Foulquier had left-knee surgery on 12 February and Mouctar Diakhaby a hamstring operation a month earlier. Their absences enabled Unai Núñez and Renzo Saravia to come in, while without Copete Corberán has only Cömert, Tárrega and Núñez at centre-back.

Tárrega played through knee trouble until a sprain against Getafe forced a pause. Cömert later came off with abdominal pain and missed Sporting, Mallorca and Celta. Thierry Rendall has missed seven Liga and two Copa matches with ACL and hamstring problems, relapsing before minutes at Villarreal.

Flu ruled out Luis Rioja for Atlético v Valencia, left José Gayà diminished and affected Javi Guerra. Goalkeepers Julen Agirrezabala, hamstring, and Stole Dimitrievski, adductor in Gijón, have been sidelined. Further absences have hit André Almeida, Dani Raba, Largie Ramazani and Arnaut Danjuma.

Knee issues persist for Diego López, who hopes to face Osasuna, while Lucas Beltrán remains out. Up front, Hugo Duro has missed only one match through suspension and Umar Sadiq has featured since Elche, with Cristian Rivero, Jesús Vázquez, Santamaría and Núñez also unscathed.

Source: Superdeporte