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The injury suffered by Bryan Oviedo is every bit as bad as people feared according to an announcement from the club. The defender/winger suffered a double fracture in his leg midway through the first half of Everton's 4-0 win over Stevenage on Saturday after a freak accident sliding to contest a loose ball.
Oviedo's cleats got stuck in the turf -- the field was in horrible shape for the match -- and caused the trauma to occur in his lower left leg, fracturing both the tibia and fibula. Oviedo was stretchered off the pitch and taken straight to a local hospital where he will remain over the weekend before undergoing surgery on Monday.
Within seconds of Oviedo going down several players and the match referee urgently waved help onto the pitch. As treatment continued, Everton players were visibly shaken by the injury.
It's a massive blow for the 23-year-old who hoped to play for Costa Rica in this summer's World Cup. It will also likely force Roberto Martinez to re-priotize his needs as the January transfer window winds down. Oviedo provided depth at fullback and was earning regular playing time in the midfield as well.
There's no timetable for Oviedo's recovery but depending on the severity of the damage and how the surgery goes, it could be well into next season before he's able to return to the pitch.
Get well soon Bryan!