Pervis Estupinan is expected to miss the start of next season for Brighton & Hove Albion, ruling him out of the Copa America this summer for Ecuador.
The left-back has undergone surgery on an ankle injury sustained in the 1-1 draw at Burnley earlier this month. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi anticipates he will not be available until September or October.
Multiple injuries restricted Estupinan to 15 Premier League starts this season, compared to 31 last season after joining from La Liga side Villarreal.
In Estupinan’s absence Brighton — 12th in the Premier League table — next face Bournemouth on Sunday.
The 26-year-old’s injury is also a blow to Ecuador for the Copa America in the United States in June and July.
Estupinan, capped 38 times by his country, was named in the team of the tournament when Ecuador reached the quarter-finals of Copa America in Brazil in 2019.
Ecuador will face Mexico and Jamaica in Group B and kick off their tournament against Venezuela on June 22 in Santa Clara.
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Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan: The Premier League’s best left-back?
(Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
