Bournemouth forward, Antoine Semenyo, will be sitting out of the important match against struggling Manchester United this weekend. The Ghanaian striker is sidelined due to a calf injury, as confirmed by AFC Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola before the week 33 showdown.
Semenyo, who has been in fine form this season, did play 45 minutes in the previous game against Crystal Palace, despite not being in optimal condition.
Iraola mentioned that Semenyo’s cold and subsequent lack of fitness may have played a role in his injury. The coach expressed the dilemma faced when deciding whether to field Semenyo, as there is a higher risk of injury associated with playing while unwell.
“Ant has been dealing with a cold over the past week and hasn’t been at his best. He played 45 minutes against Palace and probably wasn’t at his full capacity. He wanted to push through and he’s been in good form, so we wanted him to give it his all,” Iraola stated.
“However, there was likely a greater risk involved when you’re not feeling well and you step onto the pitch, increasing the chances of injury. It’s a tough decision for me, the technical staff, the doctors, and for him. This week, we also have some players who are uncertain. It’s a tricky situation to navigate because sometimes it works out, and other times they could end up injured,” he added.
Semenyo has been a crucial player for Bournemouth this season, contributing seven goals and two assists in 27 Premier League appearances.
