Stephan Zagadou suffers cruciate ligament injury, season over for 17-year-old Le Havre defender | OneFootball

Le Havre’s highly rated 17-year-old defender Stephan Zagadou has suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury in training, ruling him out for several months and ending his season, L'Équipe reports.

Le Havre face Metz on Sunday at 17:15, and Zagadou will not be able to cover for Arouna Sangante, who was sent off in the 1-1 draw at Angers last Saturday.

Head coach Didier Digard said the incident came in training during a high-speed action without heavy contact, the kind of seemingly innocuous moment that can prove costly. He called it a blow for the club and stressed the need to support the player.

Digard added that he had invited Zagadou to his home to take his mind off things, aiming to help him use the period positively.

Despite being one of the club’s top assets and with finances tight, Digard said the teenager remains focused on the day to day and has been buoyed by many messages. He insisted that, whatever happens, Zagadou will reach a big club, and that good habits at his age can only make him stronger.

Source: L'Équipe