An Ankle Injury Could Sideline Jonathan Kodjia for a Longer Period

JonathanKodjia looks likely to miss the start of next season after the Aston Villa striker broke his ankle.

The injury which he sustained in Saturday’s 1-0 Championship loss to Burnley will require further tests from a specialist.

The 27-year-old who is also Villa’s top scorer had to be carried off on a stretcher in the club’s second-to-last league match of the season.

In a club statement, Villa described the severity of the injury as one likely to require surgery, possibly ruling Kodjia out of pre-season and the start of the 2017-18 campaign.

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manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM in a post-match.

The injury is also a bump in Ivory Coast’s qualification campaign which the striker will miss in June starting with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier when it plays Guinea at home.

In addition, the injury could also affect Kodjia’s availability for the Elephants’ back-to-back games against Gabon during the 2018 World Cup qualifier to be played in late August and early September.

Kodjia has scored 19 goals for Villa this season and featured twice for Ivory Coast earlier this year at the Gabon Africa of Nations.

So far, Ivory Coast stands top of its World Cup qualifying Group C, which also includes Morocco and Mali, and has four points from two matches.

Featured photo: REX FEATURES