LUCAS TORREIRA has had to abandon plans to recuperate from his fractured ankle back home in Uruguay.
The Arsenal midfielder has been ruled out for ten weeks by the injury suffered during the 2-0 FA Cup win at Portsmouth at the beginning of the month.
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The 24-year-old was hoping to fly to his family home in Fray Bentos while he is unable to train.
But those plans have been put on hold after his flight from London was cancelled and he was forced into self-isolation by manager Mikel Arteta’s positive diagnosis for coronavirus.
Speaking to Radio Sport 890, Torreira confirmed: “It’s difficult for the family for me to be away.
“This week I was supposed to be travelling to Uruguay, but all the flights were cancelled due to the virus.
“In recent days many cases of coronavirus were discovered in London and people were nervous.
“In some supermarkets you can no longer find toilet paper or gel alcohol.
“So now I am quarantined at home, working on my own in recovery.
“I have had to buy some devices and the club is collaborating with everyone so that we can continue working individually in our homes.
“The truth is that no-one at Arsenal expected the virus to reach the club and the locker room.
“But Mikel Arteta has been able to communicate with us and he tells us that he is improving and that he is feeling better.”
Torreira also confirmed that the damage to his right ankle, suffered in a tackle by Pompey defender James Bolton, will not require surgery.
He said: “I’m happy because the examinations were good and though I am still wearing the orthopaedic boot, in eight to ten weeks I will be able to work normally again.”
That diagnosis has been confirmed by the Uruguayan national team doctor Alberto Pan, who said: “Torreira’s injury is not as serious as we originally thought.
“He will be immobilised and surgery will not be necessary. We believe that in seven to eight weeks he will be able to start working progressively.”
Arsenal initially believed that Torreira’s injury would rule him out of action for the rest of the season.
View this post on Instagram#Yomequedoen
Trabajando y metiendo con la recuperación
COVID-19
Todos juntos
vamos a salir adelante. #LT11
But with the Premier League and FA Cup fixtures all on hold due to the pandemic crisis, he could be fit to play a part in some remaining games when football finally gets the green light to return to action.
Torreira also kept the Arsenal fans informed of his progress on Instagram by posting a picture of himself surrounded by gym equipment while wearing the protective boot.
The picture was accompanied by the message “Verified #IStayAtHome. Working and messing with recovery. COVID-19 – All together we move forward. #LT11.”
