Manchester United striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez suffered a broken collarbone playing for Mexico in a goal-less friendly Wednesday against Honduras and is expected to miss the upcoming Gold Cup.
It was a first-half injury that took out the 27-year-old Guadalajara native in the Mexicans’ final tune-up match before the biennial North American regional championship that begins next week.
Hernandez has 40 goals in 73 caps for Mexico, and losing him is a major blow to Mexican hopes of taking the Gold Cup crown for a seventh time in 13 editions of the event, having won in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009 and 2011.
Estimates from match broadcaster ESPN were that Hernandez would need four to six weeks to recover.
The injury took place when Hernandez was fouled from behind by Honduran defender Brayan Beckeles as he went to play the ball and fell awkwardly onto his right arm and shoulder. He rose to a seated position and pointed to his right shoulder as he motioned for a trainer.
While his teammates played the second half, Hernandez was taken to a local hospital.
Hernandez has 59 goals in 154 appearances for Manchester United, and he scored nine goals in 33 matches for Real Madrid last season on loan. United are widely thought to be trying to sell Hernandez, with interested parties reportedly including Liverpool, Inter Milan and Juventus, among others. The injury will likely add at least a small element of doubt for clubs who will want to know the full status of Hernandez's health before making any outlay for the striker.
The Mexican team enter the Gold Cup on a seven-match winless streak, their longest since 2001.
Mexico are set to face Cuba, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago in Gold Cup group stage matches.
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