Brighton and Hove Albion youngster Jeremy Sarmiento has detailed the extent of the injury he picked up against West Ham and how surgery was his only option.
Sarmiento was handed his full debut for the Seagulls in the clash with West Ham earlier this month but only managed 11 minutes before hobbling off with an injury.
The extent of the injury was not initially known, but it was feared to be a bad one, with Sarmiento visibly upset as he left the pitch aided by two of Brighton’s physios.
It’s since been revealed he could be set for at least four months on the sidelines, with his father revealing the issue was a hamstring problem and Graham Potter confirming it would require surgery.
The Brighton man has since gone under the knife but took time out before undergoing surgery to speak to El Canal del Fútbol about the injury and why surgery was the only option for him.
“Unfortunately, I got injured against West Ham; it was a weird thing,” El Universo report him saying.
“I don’t know exactly what it was, but I would imagine on one of the plays I was going to retrieve the ball, and I slowed down, all my weight was on my left leg, and I felt a twinge.
“I tried to keep playing, but the pain kept coming on. So I decided to stop, and from there, we saw the results. Of course, it’s not good at all, but I’m focused on recovery and coming back stronger than ever.
“I spoke with the physios and teammates, and that was the best option to operate.
“I have two teammates who had the same problem, and they told me that was the best option they took. I knew it was the only option I had.”