Enner Valencia reappears after seven weeks of absence due to injury

Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia reappeared on the field after seven weeks of absence, period in which he overcame an injury that had suffered since October, on Sunday in the tie at 2 of his club, Fenerbahce, with Besiktas, in the Turkish Super League.

The all-time top scorer of the national soccer team (34 goals) entered the Sukru Saracoglu, Fenerbahce stadium at minute 90 + 3, replacing the Hungarian defender Attila Szalai. The tricolor was less than 180 seconds on the field.

Valencia had played for the last time on October 30, when his team fell on the field of Konyaspor (2-1). Days later, Fenerbahce reported the Ecuadorian’s discharge: “A ligament injury was detected in Enner Valencia’s left ankle and conservative treatment was considered adequate.”

Since then, the captain of La Tri did not appear in the cast of the Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira.

Valencia even missed the November games of the South American qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, in which Ecuador reaped victories against Venezuela (1-0) and Chile (0-2) that have it close to qualifying for the global event next year.

Fenerbahce signed the Esmeralda attacker in August 2020 for three years.

At the beginning of October, the Ecuadorian champion with Emelec in 2013 surpassed Agustín Delgado as the top scorer in the history of the National Team. It was thanks to a double against Bolivia at the Monumental Banco Pichincha stadium (3-0), in a World Cup match.

Valencia, 32, has also played for the Mexicans Pachuca and Tigres and the English West Ham and Everton.

Fenerbahce will be back in action on Wednesday when he visits Karagumruk. The Istanbul team ranks fifth in the Turkish championship, 14 points behind leader Trabzonspor, after 17 appearances. (D)