Chinese Super League's Jiangsu Suning have confirmed that Brazilian midfielder Alex Teixeira will be out of action for up to three weeks.
Teixeira suffered a left calf injury in the 1-0 victory at Henan Jianye on Wednesday and will miss Sunday's league clash with Guizhou Zhicheng and the crucial match at Beijing Guoan next Friday.
Suning posted a picture of Teixeira's bandaged left leg on its official Weibo account. /Weibo Photo
Suning posted a picture of Teixeira's bandaged left leg on its official Weibo account. /Weibo Photo
"Preliminary diagnosis on the lower left leg injury to Teixeira is a torn calf. There's a five-centimeter open wound and he will need two to three weeks for the injury to heal," read a Suning statement.
Henan Jianye goalkeeper Wu Yan, who collided with Teixeira before the Brazilian went off on a stretcher, has issued an apology to the 28-year-old, insisting that he did not mean to cause Teixeira any harm.
“I am so sorry he was hurt during our accidental collision on the pitch and I want to apologize to him," Wu Yan told reporters in a post-match interview.
"This was not intentional. I am sorry. I am really sorry," he added.
Teixeira (R) is one of the most fouled players in the Chinese Super League. /VCG Photo
Teixeira (R) is one of the most fouled players in the Chinese Super League. /VCG Photo
The news is a serious blow to Suning's hopes of challenging for the title as Cosmin Olaroiu's men head into a busy period.
Suning trail league leaders Shandong Luneng by six points and sit in fourth place, four points adrift of a AFC Champions League place.