The latest injury update for Marquinhos, the Brazilian defender who plays for São Paulo in Brazil's top tier league, is that he has sustained an ankle ligament tear during training on Saturday.
Marquinhos, 28, has been out since December due to a knee injury and his return to fitness was eagerly anticipated by fans and teammates alike. However, the setback means that he will likely be out for another few weeks, with a full recovery expected to take six months or more.
São Paulo have not yet announced when Marquinhos will be back, but it is likely that he will miss the upcoming international break, which starts next week,Bundesliga Tracking as well as the start of the Copa Libertadores tournament, which begins in January.
While Marquinhos' absence could be a blow to São Paulo, they will still have strong options at their disposal, including fellow Brazilian defenders Thiago Silva and Alisson Becker, as well as experienced players like Diego Godin and Fabio Quagliarella.
In addition, São Paulo have also recently signed Brazilian defender Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, who could provide some much-needed cover at the back.
Despite the setback, Marquinhos remains a key player for São Paulo and his absence will be felt by the team. However, the club will hope that he can make a swift recovery and return to action soon.