Cavani suffers injury setback in Uruguay outing
Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani looks to have picked up a fresh injury during Uruguay’s 2-0 win over Chile.
Our no.21, who has recently returned from a thigh issue, unfortunately had to leave the pitch early during his nation's victory in their final World Cup qualifying game due a calf problem, according to reports.
He was replaced shortly before the half-hour mark by Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez, who went on to open the scoring late on before Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde sealed the win in the 90th minute for Uruguay, who had already booked their place at this winter's tournament.
Fellow Red Facundo Pellistri, currently on loan at Alaves, was unavailable for La Celeste because of suspension.
🇺🇾 ¡𝙂𝘼𝙉𝙊́ 𝙐𝙍𝙐𝙂𝙐𝘼𝙔!@LaRoja 0-2 @Uruguay
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) March 30, 2022
⚽ @LuisSuarez9 y @fedeevalverde #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/nwCqt9LzVm
Edinson was making his first start for club and country since early February, off the back of his recent return to action, in which he has since made substitute appearances for United against Tottenham and Atletico Madrid, prior to most recently coming off the bench in his country’s first game of the recent international break at home to Peru.
His availability for our home game against Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday must now, naturally, in doubt.
It is likely that Ralf Rangnick will provide an update on the Uruguayan during his pre-match press conference on Friday, which we will have coverage for you across MUTV, the United App and on ManUtd.com.
Despite his setback, Cavani remained in good spirits as his nation secured a third-place finish in the South American qualifying pool, as they get set for what could be the 35-year-old's fourth World Cup finals for Uruguay.
"Happy for the great work of all [of us]," he wrote in a caption accompanying a picture of the team on the plane home, posted on his social media accounts.
"A group that deserves all this that is happening. Keep going, guys."
Felices por el gran trabajo de todos, un grupo que merece todo esto que está pasando, a seguir firmes muchachos 💪🇺🇾. pic.twitter.com/F9FLAzlLJJ
— Edi Cavani Official (@ECavaniOfficial) March 30, 2022
Fred watched on from the bench as his and Telles’s nation took their tally to 45 points with a game still to go, following a 4-0 win in Bolivia, with Lucas Paqueta, Richarlison (2) and Bruno Guimaraes on the scoresheet for the Selecao.
The result maintains their unbeaten record in the qualifying campaign and confirms their status as the continent's table-toppers, having already secured progression to the winter World Cup.
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Brazil's outstanding game, to be rearranged, is against rivals Argentina, who currently occupy second-spot and are also unbeaten going into that final showdown.
They too have already booked their place at the tournament in Qatar but carried on their fine record in qualifying with a 1-1 draw away to Ecuador in the early hours of Wednesday, after former West Ham forward Enner Valencia’s stoppage-time equaliser for the hosts cancelled out Julian Alvarez’s opener.
United youngster Alejandro Garnacho has been a part of the Argentina set-up for the first time over this break, but featured for their Under-20s rather than the senior side.
You can find out who Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and fellow South American qualifier Ecuador will face in the group-stage draw for this year's World Cup during Friday's draw, which gets under way at 17:00 BST.