PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Faouzi Ghoulam - Algerian did not rush his return

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Feb 14, 2018. 19:00

Faouzi Ghoulam did not rush his return from a serious knee injury, according to his surgeon Professor Pier Paolo Mariani.

The Algerian, who has been sidelined since November last year after tearing a ligament in his right knee, was set to make his comeback in the Serie A match against Lazio this past weekend.

However, he suffered a fractured patella on the same leg in training last Friday and has since undergone surgery on the injury, setting his return date back a further month.

It was speculated that Ghoulam had returned too early from his original injury (ligament tears often sideline players for as much as six to eight months), but Professor Mariani insists this new injury is unrelated.

“Not at all,” Mariani explained to Le Buteur when asked if Ghoulam’s quick return had precipitated the fracture.

“You must know that these are two completely different wounds.

“At the time of undergoing his first cruciate ligament surgery three and a half months ago, Ghoulam was not suffering from any patella injury.”

The professor added, “No, no, you must know that the cruciate ligaments have nothing to do with the patella, even if it is the same knee.

“There are some players that I have operated in the past for a similar knee injury and who have resumed training in less than three months and have not sustained a second injury, as was the case with Faouzi .

“This is a simple accident that can be victim any player. Ghoulam did not rush his return, it's fate that wanted him to be injured again.”