Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon is set to be sidelined for four months following wrist surgery.
The 27-year-old, who underwent the procedure on Thursday at La Luz Hospital, will be discharged on Friday.
He suffered a tear of the ligament between the scaphoid and the lunate in his right wrist and had been managing the injury with injections.
If his recovery is on the shorter end, he is expected to miss up to 14 league games and four Europa League fixtures. Athletic have stressed that they want to be cautious with his recovery and will take their time with Simon’s rehabilitation.
GO DEEPER
Spain’s Simon says he is playing through injury, will have surgery after Euros
Simon’s injury also has implications for the Spain national team. He is likely to be unable to participate in the four Nations League matches scheduled between September and October, and his availability for the November international window is in doubt.
Simon’s injury will come as a significant blow to Athletic, with the Spain international being a key player for the club.
Last season, he featured in 36 matches in La Liga as Athletic finished fifth in Spain’s top flight.
Simon has been Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper in the last two major tournaments as he helped his nation lift the European Championship earlier this month. He has been capped on 46 occasions.
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
