Feyenoord’s Hwang In-beom Avoids Serious Ankle Injury, Out Until April
The South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom, playing for Feyenoord, will be sidelined for approximately a month following an ankle ligament injury sustained during a recent match. This incident occurred during Feyenoord’s 2-1 victory over Excelsior last Sunday, resulting in Hwang being substituted in the 44th minute after a challenging confrontation with Excelsior’s Noah Naujoks.
At 29 years old, Hwang expressed significant discomfort when leaving the field, prompting his coach, Robin van Persie, to label the situation as “worrisome.” The concerns were validated when, after being seen on crutches in central Rotterdam on Wednesday, the South Korean Football Association (KFA) confirmed that medical examinations revealed ligament damage to Hwang’s right ankle. Thankfully, the tests indicated that major damage was avoided, a relief to the player, his team, and fans alike.
In light of this injury, the KFA announced their decision to exclude Hwang from the squad for the upcoming March international matches. South Korea is set to face Austria on March 28 and the Ivory Coast on March 31, both of which serve as crucial preparation for the impending FIFA World Cup.
Although he is expected to be unavailable for about a month, optimistic forecasts suggest that Hwang could return in time to participate in the Republic of Korea’s World Cup campaign.
This setback adds to the growing list of injured players at Feyenoord, which includes Thomas Beelen, Malcolm Jeng, Shaqueel van Persie, Givairo Read, Leo Sauer, Gijs Smal, Jeremiah St. Juste, Sem Steijn, Gernot Trauner, and Tsuyoshi Watanabe, all of whom are currently dealing with various injuries. As Feyenoord prepares for the upcoming Klassieker derby against Ajax, this depth of injuries poses a significant challenge for the coaching staff.
