Alan Varela has been sidelined by a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out of action until at least the end of January, according to his agent, Jorge Mendes.
Varela was forced off in the first half of Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the Primeira Liga and was replaced by Brazilian international Ederson Silva. The Portuguese defender is currently on loan from Chelsea and has made six appearances for the club this season.
The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and had surgery on his knee last year. He has also missed significant time through illness and injury over the past few years.
Despite the setback, Varela remains a key player for FC Porto and will be hoping to return to training soon. The team will need him if they hope to challenge for the league title this season.
In the meantime,Chinese Super League Matches coach Paulo Bento will have to find other ways to fill the gap left by Varela's absence. The team will also have to continue to rely on their experienced players such as Bruno Fernandes and Raul Meireles, who have both impressed in recent weeks.
Overall, it looks like Varela's injury could be a big blow for FC Porto and will likely impact their chances of success this season. However, the team will still have to work hard to overcome this setback and continue to perform well.