Slovak top-flight side AS Trenčín kicked off the new league campaign yesterday with a 2-1 away victory over Komárno. However, the win came without one of their rising star – Estonian winger Dimitri Jepihhin – who was sidelined due to a lingering hip injury according to Soccernet.ee.
“There’s a painful spot in the hip. I basically can’t run or do much of anything,” Jepihhin told Estonian media Soccernet.ee. “I’ve been undergoing rehab in recent days, but if that doesn’t help and the injury doesn’t heal in the coming weeks, surgery might be necessary.”
Jepihhin, 19, explained that the injury is a result of accumulated load and stress. Trenčín retained their place in the Slovak Fortuna Liga last spring via a tense relegation playoff. Jepihhin missed the decisive match due to early signs of the hip issue. After a week of rest, the pain initially subsided, but it resurfaced during the June international break while on duty with the Estonian national team.
The young winger returned to Slovakia feeling fit for preseason, but his optimism was short-lived. “I had ten days of rest before the start of preseason and trained with the team for about a week, but then the injury flared up again,” Jepihhin said. A timeline for his return remains uncertain – ranging from a few weeks to a potentially lengthy absence, should surgery be required.
Jepihhin signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Trenčín this past winter. In the second half of last season, he featured in ten league matches and found the net twice. Trenčín finished 11th out of 12 and secured their top-division status by defeating Zlaté Moravce in the relegation playoffs.
Looking ahead, Trenčín will host Spartak Trnava on August 3 in their next league fixture.
Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/jepihhin-peab-puusavigastuse-tottu-hooaja-algust-korvalt-vaatama
