Mustafa Hekimoglu has suffered a thigh injury that puts his participation in "Besiktas's" upcoming Europa League qualifier against "Shakhtar" in serious doubt. The club's medical staff confirmed the 18-year-old striker sustained a muscle strain with bleeding in his upper thigh during a recent friendly match.
"The medical assessment shows a significant strain. We're monitoring his condition daily, but right now we can't guarantee his availability for Thursday," the club statement indicated.
The injury occurred during Besiktas's pre-season friendly against Wolfsberg, which ended in a 3-2 defeat for the Turkish side. The timing couldn't be worse as the team prepares for their crucial second-round Europa League qualification match.
Last season, the young Turkish forward featured in 32 matches across all competitions, finding the net three times and providing two assists. Not bad numbers for a teenager breaking into senior football.
Interestingly, while dealing with this injury concern, "Besiktas" is also reportedly pursuing a move for Emerson to strengthen their squad before European competition begins.
The first leg between "Besiktas" and "Shakhtar" is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, with kickoff at 21:00 local time. Can the Istanbul club cope without their young striker if he's ruled out? The next few days of his recovery will be crucial.
