The injury has caused a lot of concern at both club and national level as Atletico Madrid confirmed that the midfielder has been injured and will face surgery. It was an unfortunate turn of events, just in time for the World Cup, which is only a few weeks away.
The injury occurred during a normal training session last Thursday with the United States international. The club says it is a serious problem. This is a serious ankle sprain that has involved the joint and surgery is a necessity and not an option.
It is a situation that is all the more frustrating for Johnny Cardoso. He was building up a nice rhythm at Atletico Madrid and had been given the nod to play a prominent part in the national team. His next step is now recovery, and not performance.
Overall, this injury opens doubts about the depth of the United States squads. Cardoso’s absence in the midfield will require changes, not least in matches where they are under pressure. His ability to play with pace and balance in midfield won’t be something that is easily replaceable.
At club level, it will also be felt by Atletico Madrid. The team will now be without one of the growing key contributors to their system. The injuries sustained during training are always a tough blow to take as they are not as intense as injuries during a match.
The recovery timeframe is also quite a bit of an unknown. Surgery will hopefully resolve the problem, but it will be difficult to return in time for a big tournament. It takes time to recover from being unfit, unrhymed, and lacking in confidence. Ultimately, this only serves to remind people in football how fast things can move. Now, one training session has put Cardoso’s World Cup dream in doubt.
