England is poised to end its title drought since 1962 in this year's Euro finals. But just as the flames of war were about to ignite, shocking news spread: midfield centerpiece Zudi Binningham's shoulder injury has worsened to the point where he needs painkillers before he can step into the fray. The 21-year-old Real Madrid star is reportedly scheduled to undergo surgery to cure the injury after the Europa League and is expected to be out of action for two months.
According to Spanish media outlet Relevo, Binningham suffered an injury to his shoulder joint during a game in November last season that never healed. Even in his comeback, he still suffered pain from time to time. He often wears American-style shoulder pads to alleviate the discomfort from the injury and even relies on painkillers to keep him going during games.
The Real Madrid side made a special trip to visit Binningham after England's recent European quarterfinals match against Holland and met with his family. The team is concerned about the deterioration of the rising star's shoulder injury and are divided on whether to go ahead with surgery. Once surgery is performed, Binningham is expected to miss at least two months, meaning he will miss La Liga and part of the Europa League in the new season.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid's medical team is inclined to recommend that Binningham undergoes surgery with a view to a complete cure. At the moment, they have not made a final decision and all will be revealed after the European final.
Despite his shoulder injury, Binningham still performed well at the Euros, scoring two goals for England, one of which came in the group stage when England beat Serbia 1-0. He also scored a reverse hook against Slovakia in the round of 16 to equalize the score at 1-1 and give the Three Lions a chance to win extra time. Binningham will undoubtedly play a key role in helping England beat Spain in the final.
