In November, Andre Gomes suffered a horrific ankle injury in a match between Everton and Tottenham.The Portuguese midfielder suffered a fracture dislocation of his right ankle after colliding with Son Heung-min and Serge Aurier.Gomes underwent surgery in the days after and it was expected that he would be out for some time.However, just 111 days after his injury, Gomes appeared for Everton again as he was substituted on against Arsenal.Given the severity of his injury, it was incredible that he returned to first-team action within four months.And Gomes made his first start since that injury against Manchester United on the weekend.He lasted 82 minutes before being substituted for Moise Kean.And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showed his class when Gomes made way.
Despite the score locked at 1-1 and both sides looking for a winner, Solskjaer took his mind away from the game for a brief moment.As Gomes was shaking hands with Carlo Ancelotti and Everton staff, the Norwegian manager tapped him on the shoulder to congratulate him.The two shared an embrace and Solskjaer had some words for Gomes before he made his way to the bench.
What a beautiful moment.
It is certainly a great achievement for Gomes to return to football so soon after his injury and Solskjaer obviously recognised that.
The United boss was also very complimentary of Gomes when speaking about him before the match.
“He's a fantastic player, first of all and the way that he's come back, less than four months after that bad injury, looking the way he does now, is fantastic,” he said, per the Daily Express. “[It’s] great to see.
“Of course, I played with Alan Smith [who broke his leg against Liverpool], ourselves we know how difficult that can be.
“He must have been really doubting how long this would take, so it’s great to see him back.”