Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko remains out of action through injury, with the problem proving more serious than initially believed.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was forced off the pitch with an injury during Nottingham Forest’s Europa League match against FC Porto on October 23rd, but manager Sean Dyche didn’t initially seem to believe the problem was too serious.
“Zinchenko, after coming off, we’ll wait and see how that is as well, that one’s going to be touch and go, I think,” Dyche said of the left-back potentially being involved against Bournemouth that same weekend.
Yet Zinchenko didn’t return against Bournemouth, nor for the following games against Manchester United and SK Sturm Graz, and he’s now even been excluded from the Ukraine squad for the upcoming November internationals.
In his last update on the Arsenal loanee, Dyche was less optimistic, saying: “Zinchenko is a no at the moment, unfortunately, and is going to be a bit longer than we thought.”
It’s unclear exactly when the defender might return to action, but the game away to Liverpool on November 22nd is now the very earliest he could be expected back on the pitch.
The injury has been reported to be a groin issue, which will be a particular concern as Zinchenko already missed multiple matches in October with a groin problem.
It’s been far from the ideal start to Zinchenko’s loan spell, with just six appearances in over two months so far. Already ruled out of the international break, his full focus now will just be on getting fit.