Sevilla's Krohn-Dehli could miss 7-8 months after horrific knee injury
Sevilla's influential Danish midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli could miss seven to eight months after suffering a gruesome knee injury during Thursday's Europa League semi-final first-leg tilt at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Just 13 minutes into a second-half substitute appearance for Unai Emery's lot, the 32-year-old Danish international's knee contorted in a cruel fashion as he turned to run upfield. Sevilla and Shakhtar players looked on as Krohn-Dehli writhed in pain, with several noticeably shaken by the incident.
Krohn-Dehli was diagnosed with a displaced fracture of the kneecap.
Sevilla confirmed Krohn-Dehli's long-term layoff with an announcement on its website Friday, claiming that the midfielder was slated for surgery later in the day.
"The player has been operated on ... for a displaced fracture of the left kneecap. The operation was performed without incident," Sevilla said in a statement.
Vitolo on Krohn-Dehli's serious injury: “I saw his knee-cap come right out of the knee”.
— AS English (@English_AS) April 28, 2016
Sevilla added that Krohn-Dehli, who joined the club from Celta Vigo last July, would miss "between seven and eight months" depending on his recovery, meaning the midfielder may not return to action until 2017.
Danish fans can be excused for a case of Deja Vu, as Krohn-Dehli's injury bears a striking resemblance to that of Henrik Andersens during Euro '92.
The seven to eight month layoff is tentative at best, as Krohn-Dehli's operation requires the patellar tendon to be reinserted, connecting the kneecap to the shin, after its fused back into place at the junction of the bone.