Chicharito to miss El Trafico due to hamstring injury

The LA Galaxy star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will miss Saturday’s much-anticipated El Trafico showdown against crosstown rivals and reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC at the Rose Bowl due to a hamstring injury.

For the Glory of our LA 🔥

El Tráfico meets the @RoseBowlStadium for the can't-miss event of the season.

🎟 https://t.co/SRGpMtljOY pic.twitter.com/0WCpsSpPA4

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 24, 2023

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“It’s not trending like he will be available,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney told reporters.

“But we’re still working day to day to see what will happen. We still [are] trying to get some clarity and some imaging and stuff like that, just to see what we’re fully dealing with.”

The Mexican forward left LA’s Tuesday training session with what appeared to be hamstring discomfort, and he was not present in the segment of Thursday’s practice that was open to media at Dignity Health Sports Park.

A few hours later, Chicharito effectively confirmed the setback on his Instagram feed.

Chicharito started the Galaxy’s preseason match vs. Portland at the Coachella Valley Invitational on Feb. 12, but was substituted just three minutes in as a precautionary measure.

The Mexican suffered a series of injuries that led him to miss at least 18 games back in 2021 as well as all matches in August and early September last year.