News of Roman Torres’ latest injury has alarmed fans of both the Seattle Sounders and the Panama national team, with the big center back sustaining a hamstring strain that could put his availability for this summer’s World Cup in jeopardy.
“It’s not good. It’s not good. It’s a hamstring injury and it’s not good. That’s all I’ll say on it now. But that was a blow,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer told reporters on Wednesday, in the wake of his influential defender aggravating the issue during pregame warmups and being scratched from the starting lineup for Sunday’s 1-0 loss to LAFC.
Yet Torres himself took to social media on Thursday to tamp down that fretting and put fans of his teams at ease – and was even echoed by posts from Panama’s team doctor.
“A small muscle injury makes me have to stop. I will recover and I will return with the favor of God to help my teammates with Sounders FC and the national team,” tweeted Torres, playfully referring to himself by "Mazinger," his nickname. “Thanks for all the expressions of affection you have given me,” adding that his “faith is intact.”
Panama’s official orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gerinaldo Martinez, also took to Twitter to lay out some clinical data on Torres’ injury, which he believes will sideline the player for two to three weeks.
“ROMAN TORRES. ISCHIOTIBIAL injury right thigh. Sports loss of 14-21 days,” wrote Martinez. “By definition it is a moderate lesion (7-28 days). The minimum (1-3 days), mild (1 week), serious (more than a month or retirement). Plan: Physiotherapy -Rehabilitation-Sports re-adaptation.
“From day 1 the medical department of the senior team @ fepafut [the Panamanian federation] through me has been in direct contact with Román Torres to follow up and certified information of his injury.”
Panama and their supporters are eagerly anticipating the country's inaugural World Cup campaign, which kicks off against Belgium on June 18 in Russia, and also includes group-stage matches vs. England and Tunisia.
