José Giménez out three weeks with right thigh injury, persistent injury a concern

Jose Gimenez will miss at least three weeks with a Grade I-II tear in his right abductor muscle suffered in the draw with Alavés at the weekend.

According to a statement on the club’s official site, they say Gimenez: José María Giménez suffered a grade I-II muscle injury in his right thigh adductor (proximal third), as was revealed by the MRI the Uruguayan defender underwent in the Majadahonda FREMAP Hospital. The MRI confirms the first diagnosis made on Saturday in Vitoria.”

It is the second injury of that nature for Gimenez four games and three weeks in October. The injury adds further frustration for the Uruguayan, who has struggled this year to convince Diego Simeone that he is a first choice central defender.

The 22-year-old has missed 13 LaLiga games this season through injury, international duty and just not being picked. He has started just six games in the league for Atletico and failed to finish two of them through injury.

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

That is a long way off his 27 starts in LaLiga last season. He missed just five games through injury and was rested for most of the others through being rested and one due to a yellow card suspension.

It is no secret that Gimenez has taken a step backwards this season, which is not necessarily a bad thing but he will have to heal his body and that persistent abductor injury in the coming weeks and months and come back stronger then before. Central defenders rarely impress at such a young age on a consistent basis and Gimenez has plenty of time but it is through these hard times that the very best learn and Gimenez has learned this season that life at the top is tough.