Ummm, excuse me, Xavier, what do you mean “walking again”!?
The young Chelsea defender posted an update on Instagram today, showing him wearing a brace on his right knee and walking on crutches. In the video, he looks absolutely chuffed with his progress.
You all wanted to know where he is... pic.twitter.com/XVvZmoN4nR
— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) September 19, 2020
From personal experience, that’s a knee brace normally used after ACL reconstruction, which would also match his caption, “finally walking again” — it takes a bit to start walking semi-normally again after such a surgery, although more aggressive modern therapeutic methods have continued to reduce that period of absolute non-activity to minimize atrophy and jump-start recovery.
Other guesses include less severe problems, such as a meniscus clean-up, which can still take several weeks if not months to recover from, depending on severity. (Antonio Rüdiger missed four months after his meniscus surgery last year, for example.)
Not to worry with Xavier, routine key hole surgery to cleanup his meniscus.
— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) September 19, 2020
I know many were asking where he has been. But better to come from the player himself
It’s unclear how or when or even exactly why Mbuyamba had to have surgery; his update was a complete surprise, though one that does explain why he hadn’t been seen for the U23s since signing as a free agent this summer.
The 18-year-old spent last season at Barcelona, after his move to Chelsea last summer fell through because of the transfer ban. Now he’s here, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see him in action, even for the reserves. Fortunately, he’s young and modern surgical and recovery protocols usually ensure a full and complete recovery from ACL injuries.
Good luck and speedy recovery, young one!