Mexico goalkeeper Luis Malagon will miss this summer’s Copa America due to a muscular injury.
The 27-year-old Club America goalkeeper could miss up to four weeks with the injury, with Santos Laguna goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo called up to Jaime Lozano’s squad in his place.
Mexico’s two other squad goalkeepers — Julio Gonzalez of Pumas UNAM and Guadalajara’s Raul Rangel — were both uncapped prior to this month.
Gonzalez, 33, played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 friendly win over Bolivia earlier this month while 24-year-old Rangel started in the four-goal defeat to Uruguay five days later.
“I can confirm the news regarding Angel Malagon,” Mexico coach Lozano said on Friday.
“Unfortunately he’s been injured and he had to return to his club. There won’t be enough time for him to recover and take part in the Copa America. We have already spoken to Carlos Avecedo, who will take (Malagon’s) place for the Copa America.”
Acevedo and Malagon have only six and four Mexico senior caps respectively, with 150-time capped Guillermo Ochoa the long-serving international No 1.
Ochoa played in the CONCACAF Nations League final defeat to the U.S. in March, with the goalkeeper — Mexico’s third-highest appearance-maker — captaining the side.
However, Ochoa — alongside experienced forwards Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano and Raul Jimenez — was excluded from the 31-man Mexico preliminary squad for the Copa America.
“We are two years away from our World Cup,” Mexico sporting director Duilo Davino said of the decisions. “We have our spot secured and we want to take advantage of this great opportunity to not think about the immediacy of the result and project our path to 2026.”
Mexico will conclude their Copa America preparations with a friendly against Brazil on June 8 with their group campaign getting underway against Jamaica 14 days later.
Lozano’s side then play Venezuela on June 26 before concluding their group stage against Ecuador four days later.
(Gonzalo Gonzalez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Read the full article here