Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 5y

Lozano a Gold Cup doubt as PSV season ends with knee injury

Hirving Lozano's season with PSV Eindhoven is over and the Mexico international is facing a race to be fit to take part in the Gold Cup with El Tri.

Lozano suffered an injury to his right knee in PSV's victory over Willem II and left the field on a stretcher in visible pain which had sparked fears he may have suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, although the player has suggested the injury may not be as serious as first thought.

"I'm relieved to know there isn't any damage to my ligaments, but obviously I'm very sad to not be able to play this decisive stage of the season," Lozano said in a statement released by PSV. "My recovery has started. I'm going to do everything possible to be able to be in shape and return to the pitch as soon as possible."

The Mexican national team's medical staff will be in contact with PSV to find out exactly how long Lozano will be out, with his participation in the Gold Cup thought to be seriously in doubt, according to ESPN Mexico's Mauricio Ymay, who is in the Netherlands.

Lozano's PSV is level on points with Ajax with two games of the Eredivisie season to go, but behind the Amsterdam club on goal difference in what could be the the 23-year-old's last season in the league.

Lozano has been linked with a move away from the Netherlands this summer, with Manchester United and Napoli reportedly showing interest.

Mexico coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said on Monday that he expects Lozano to recover in time following the injury scare.

"Lozano (has) got a knee injury," said Martino. "It wasn't as bad as it seemed ... I'm getting ahead of myself because the doctors are meeting, (but) I believe that (Lozano) shouldn't have any problem to play at the Gold Cup."

Martino said in March that Lozano has the qualities to make the step up.

"I think that Hirving has been in the Netherlands a decent amount of time and has shown he is a valuable player that can make the jump to one of Europe's biggest clubs," Martino had said. "I'd be in agreement [with a move], but it's obviously the player's decision.

"From the analysis side, is the player is now prepared? Absolutely, yes."

El Tri plays friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador in early June, before kicking off its Gold Cup campaign against Cuba on June 15 in the Rose Bowl.

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