Bournemouth have said they will support Enes Unal “in every way possible” after the Turkey international became their latest long-term attacking absentee.
A day after the Cherries revealed that Brazilian striker Evanilson had undergone surgery to fracture his foot, the club announced that Unal had torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during a routine exercise Tuesday, adding that they were “devastated.” “.
Unal, who scored his two goals this season in back-to-back Premier League matches in December, also missed the first half of Spanish side Getafe’s 2023/24 season with an ACL injury.
“Firstly, our thoughts are with Enes at this time as he begins to face another significant period of rehabilitation ahead,” a club statement said on Wednesday.
“He will undergo surgery to repair the ligament in the coming days and the club’s medical and performance staff will support him in every way possible throughout. We are all behind Enes and will provide updates on his recovery progress as appropriate.
We are all with you, Enes 🫂
I wish you the best for your recovery ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/hkwGvHZrGD
– AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 8, 2025
Unal Bournemouth Statistics
The 27-year-old joined Bournemouth on loan from Getafe in January before making the move permanent for £13million in May.
He contributed two goals and two assists in 17 appearances during his loan spell and has played in all 17 of the club’s matches since missing their first four games of this season with a broken toe.
The injury kept Unal out of Turkey’s Euro 2024 squad, but he returned to win his 34th cap as a substitute at home to Wales in the Nations League in November.
Your tireless work does not go unnoticed by us, Eva 🇧🇷
Good luck with your recovery ❤ pic.twitter.com/naAE6t0RFo
– AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 7, 2025
Injuries at Bournemouth: Unal and Evanilson absent
Bournemouth responded by recalling their only remaining centre-forward, Daniel Jebbison, from his loan at second division Watford, where the 21-year-old failed to score in 13 appearances.
Six-goal top scorer Justin Kluivert was part of their attacking line for their 1-0 home win over Everton on Saturday, when David Brooks scored 13 minutes from time and Evanilson was substituted after 82 minutes due to his foot injury.
Evanilson joined Porto for a record fee of £40.2 million in August and has five goals in 19 league appearances, starting 17 times.
Antoine Semenyo, who also has five goals, started as part of an attack also containing Dango Ouattara, who has three, with Unal introduced as a substitute.
Bournemouth v West Brom
Andoni Iraola’s side are seventh in the table and three points outside the top four after going eight league matches without defeat, a club record.
They are next in action at home to second division West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (3 p.m. GMT).
