WATCH as dreadful tackle by former Tottenham man sidelines Benfica and Ireland prospect
Jaden Umeh had impressed new Benfica boss Marco Silva during pre-season training and started a couple of friendlies.
Jaden Umeh faces up to three months on the sidelines after a horror challenge by former Tottenham defender Emerson Royal.
Umeh’s form in pre-season training under new Benfica boss Marco Silva earned the new Ireland cap a couple of starts in the Portuguese club’s summer friendlies.
He featured in a 5-2 win against Estrela da Amadora and was back in the side at the weekend as they took on Brazilian club Flamengo.
Umeh, who made his first two senior Ireland appearances in the summer friendlies against Qatar and Canada, had started the game brightly.
But he was forced out of the action after a nasty late challenge by Emerson near the touchline, as the ball was going out of play.
Reports in Portugal suggest that the 18-year-old Cork native faces three months on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
Umeh famously sat some of his Leaving Cert exams in Montreal ahead of the Canada game.
He became the youngest ever player to line out for Cork City’s first-team when he made his debut at the age of just 15 years and 230 days, and his goal against Wexford just 14 days after his 16th birthday made him the League of Ireland side's youngest scorer.
Umeh signed for Benfica in the summer of 2024 and quickly became one of their star performers at underage level. Jose Mourinho brought him up to train with the first-team squad on a number of occasions last season.
The Leesider, who made his Ireland Under-21 debut just two months before his senior bow, has been tipped for the top with the Portuguese giants.
And despite this set-back, a first-team breakthrough seems likely in the upcoming season.
