Antonio Valencia nearly fractures his left ankle again

• Valencia damaged left ankle in Ecuador's draw with Paraguay
• Manchester United winger will miss next Copa América match

Antonio Valencia, right, was replaced after 45 minutes after injuring his left ankle playing for Ecuador against Paraguay.

The Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia came close to a recurrence of the injury that severely disrupted his last season and will miss Ecuador's second Copa América Group B match, against Paraguay on Saturday.

After missing six months of United's title-winning campaign with a dislocated and broken left ankle Valencia may have feared another lengthy spell on the sidelines after damaging the same joint in the 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Fe on Sunday.

"[His opponent] stepped on his foot and very nearly fractured it again," said Ecuador's team doctor, Tony Ocampo.

"He has a bruise on the spot where he has a titanium plate, he couldn't put his weight on his foot, but the swelling has gone down about 40% since Sunday. He won't make it for Saturday but he'll be there for Brazil [on 13 July]."